Trump administration's emergency order forcing Washington's last coal plant to stay open faces federal legal challenge. The state and environmental groups filed lawsuits claiming the Energy Department's directive lacks legitimate basis and violates federal law. TransAlta's Centralia plant was set to close and convert to natural gas under state law banning coal by 2026. The emergency order, issued in December, extends operations until at least March 16 with likely extension. Washington's attorney general argues the move is illegal and jeopardizes public health, stating the state will not be forced to restart a defunct facility. Legal experts question whether a genuine power supply emergency actually exists to justify the federal intervention overriding state energy policy.
