To avoid blackouts, Trump admin keeps another aging power plant online through summer

The U.S. Department of Energy is ordering an lipid and state powerfulness works to support its turbines moving done the hottest summertime months arsenic a precaution against energy shortfalls successful the mid-Atlantic grid

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The U.S. Department of Energy has ordered different powerfulness plant, this clip an lipid and state works successful Pennsylvania, to support its turbines moving done the hottest summertime months arsenic a precaution against energy shortfalls successful the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid.

The department's bid to the grid operator, PJM Interconnection, regarding the Eddystone powerfulness works conscionable southbound of Philadelphia connected the Delaware River, is the department's 2nd usage of national powerfulness nether President Donald Trump to necessitate a powerfulness works to support operating connected the mainland United States.

Constellation Energy had planned to unopen down Eddystone's units 3 and 4 connected Saturday, but Trump's Department of Energy ordered the institution to proceed operating the units until astatine slightest Aug. 28. The units tin nutrient a combined 760 megawatts.

The department, successful its order, cited PJM's increasing concerns astir powerfulness shortfalls amid the shutdown of aging powerfulness plants and rising energy demand.

PJM past twelvemonth approved Constellation's petition to unopen down the units, but it welcomed the department's bid to support them operating, saying it's a “prudent, term-limited step” that allows PJM, the section and Constellation to survey the longer-term request and viability of Eddystone's units.

The section took a similar measurement past week, ordering Consumers Energy to support the J.H. Campbell coal-fired powerfulness works unfastened successful Michigan past its Saturday retirement.

The grid relation there, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, said the bid was unnecessary, that determination was nary vigor exigency determination and that determination should beryllium capable vigor successful the portion done the summer.

An biology advocacy group, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, criticized the determination to support Eddystone operating arsenic an "environmental injustice." Shutting down the units would trim hazardous contamination and c emissions from the decades-old installation and assistance the portion conscionable national cleanable aerial standards for smog, it said.

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