(INDIANA) - The Trump administration is keeping two Indiana coal power plants running, even though the companies planned to shut them down by the end of the year. Federal energy officials issued a 90-day emergency order requiring utilities in northern and southern Indiana to keep several coal-burning units ready to produce electricity through at least March 23rd.
The order affects two units at a NIPSCO plant in northwest Indiana and one unit at a CenterPoint plant near the Ohio River. Both utilities had already planned to move away from coal.
Federal officials say they acted to protect the power grid during winter weather and rising electricity demand, especially from large data centers. The Energy Department says coal plants provide steady power that does not depend on wind or sunshine.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said keeping the plants online could prevent power shortages during extreme cold.
The move fits into President Trump's broader push to support coal and slow the shift toward renewable energy like wind and solar.
NIPSCO says it will follow the order while reviewing how it could affect customers and costs. The company serves more than 450-thousand electric customers across northern Indiana.
CenterPoint says it will also comply. The utility had planned to convert its last coal unit to natural gas by 2027.
Environmental and consumer groups oppose the decision, saying it will increase pollution and could drive up electric bills. They argue customers already face higher energy costs and should not pay to keep older coal plants running longer.
The NIPSCO units date back to the 1980s. The CenterPoint unit began operating in the 1960s.