Washington

Fossil fuels

Washington coal plant produces no power but plenty of costs. Who pays?

The Trump administration ordered the last coal plant in Washington to be on standby. Its owner wants utilities to pick up the still-running tab for that.

By Tom Banse .

26 June 2026

Coal plant with a snowcapped mountain in the distance — The Centralia coal plant hasn’t operated since last December, but is required to remain on standby by order of the Trump administration. Its owner, TransAlta, wants reimbursement. Electric ratepayers across the Pacific Northwest could end up paying. (Tom Banse)

Fossil fuels

Trump’s pro-coal crusade hits a snag in Washington state

The DOE just ordered the TransAlta coal plant to keep running. But it has been offline since December, and a new state law would make it too costly to turn back on.

By Jeff St. John . 17 March 2026
Carbon capture

A firm capturing carbon at NYC high-rises tackles Canadian gas pipelines

CarbonQuest’s new project cutting emissions from an engine along a gas pipeline could help it scale to applications at universities, AI data centers, and factories.

By Julian Spector . 12 February 2026
Hydropower

A rare step forward for a US pumped hydro project

Rye Development got a federal permit for a massive grid megaproject in the Pacific Northwest. Construction will start once it finds buyers for the electricity.

By Julian Spector . 26 January 2026
Fossil fuels

Trump admin orders Washington state coal plant to stay running

TransAlta’s Centralia power plant was meant to close at month’s end and be converted to burn gas by 2028. DOE’s must-run order complicates that plan.

By Jeff St. John . 17 December 2025
Sponsored by DNV

How DNV is helping partners slash energy bills with dual-fuel heat pumps

A DNV study for PSE confirms dual-fuel heat pumps reduce overall energy use and satisfy customers, providing a data-backed blueprint for decarbonizing homes.

22 July 2025
Clean industry

States are moving forward with Buy Clean policies despite Trump reversal

New York, Washington, and other states are forming coalitions to cut carbon emissions from building materials even as the federal government bows out.

By Maria Gallucci . 20 February 2025
ENN

Commentary: Why businesses stood up for Washington state's cap-and-invest policy

Voters soundly defeated a measure to repeal a landmark climate policy, and some of the top employers in the state had urged them to do so.

By Kelly Trombley . 13 November 2024
Politics

Washington voters uphold the state’s pioneering climate law

Voters rejected a ballot measure that aimed to repeal the state’s cap-and-invest program. A measure blocking fossil-gas bans may pass, though.

By Akielly Hu . 6 November 2024
Policy & regulation

Washington state’s landmark climate law faces Election Day test

The 2021 law created a cap-and-invest program that has funneled billions to clean energy and climate solutions in the state. A ballot measure aims to repeal it.

By Akielly Hu . 24 September 2024
ENN

In a push for green energy, one federal agency made tribes an offer they had to refuse

The Yakama Nation wanted to consult on the development of a project on sacred land. But when the tribal nation refused to disclose confidential information, the agency moved forward without tribal input.

By B. “Toastie” Oaster . 1 July 2024