Federal authority orders continuation of Philadelphia's coal or gas power station operation

The Trump administration has taken a controversial step towards maintaining the operation of fossil fuel plants, with a new emergency order issued for the Eddystone Generating Station, a natural gas and oil-fired power plant near Philadelphia.

The order, which comes under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, directs the grid operator, PJM Interconnection, and utility company Constellation Energy to keep running two units at the Eddystone Generating Station. The utility is led by Joe Dominguez, the company's President and CEO, with Chris Mudrick serving as the Chief Nuclear Officer, effective September 29, 2025.

This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to force utilities and grid operators to continue operating fossil fuel plants scheduled for retirement. The aim is to prolong the use of these plants and potentially delay the transition to renewable energy.

However, this broader effort could face legal challenges or opposition from environmental groups and renewable energy advocates. The ongoing operation of the plant is deemed necessary due to potential hot weather, but critics argue that it goes against efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.

The original emergency order was issued in May, and this current order for the Eddystone Generating Station is an extension of that broader effort. It's important to note that the effort is not limited to this power plant, and other fossil fuel plants targeted in the administration's plan may also be affected.

The Eddystone Generating Station is one of the fossil fuel plants targeted in the broader effort by the Trump administration. The power plant is to remain online until late November, according to the order.

This decision has sparked debate among energy experts and policymakers, with some arguing that the need for short-term energy security should not come at the expense of long-term environmental sustainability. The future of this and other similar orders remains uncertain, as the administration's broader plan faces potential legal challenges and opposition.