Photo: Alamy
Two coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania will remain operational beyond their planned 2028 shutdown after a new agreement between the state and their operator, Keystone-Conemaugh Projects, LLC, President Donald Trump announced on social media Tuesday.
The deal allows the Conemaugh Station in Indiana County and Keystone Station in Armstrong County to continue running through 2032, reversing earlier plans to close the facilities due to the high cost of complying with federal wastewater regulations.
“My Administration just delivered a BIG WIN for the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which I love, and WON by the largest margin in History. Based on this, the Commerce Department worked with Governor Josh Shapiro, who has now agreed to keep open TWO BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN COAL PLANTS in Indiana and Armstrong Counties,” the president posted to Truth Social.
“Radical Left Lunatics wanted to get rid of these wonderful Plants in favor of WIND FARMS, which kill the birds, and are both costly and ineffective. We will never allow that to happen! Thankfully, we struck a deal to guarantee these Plants will not be ‘retired.’ I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THE FANTASTIC PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA!” he added.
The rules, set by the Environmental Protection Agency, require coal plants to limit pollutants from wastewater, including toxic substances such as arsenic, mercury and lead, by the end of 2025 or shut down.
Initially, the company said it could not justify the investment required to meet those standards due to lower energy demand. But that outlook shifted as electricity needs increased, driven in part by the expansion of data centers across the state.
Under the agreement, the plants can keep operating if they meet a series of deadlines tied to environmental upgrades. The company must apply for permits within 60 days, begin construction shortly after approvals, and complete system improvements on a strict timeline before bringing upgraded systems online.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro praised the deal, describing it as a balance between maintaining energy reliability and reducing environmental impact. He has promoted an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy policy that includes fossil fuels alongside renewables.
