The Trump administration is using emergency powers for the third time to help maintain the operation of a coal power plant in Washington state.

Due to concerns about power outages in the area, the US government has ordered a coal-fired power plant in Washington state to continue operating beyond its scheduled retirement date. The Department of Energy's directive requires the TransAlta company to keep its last remaining unit at the Centralia Generating Station running after its planned retirement at the end of this year. The Trump administration has repeatedly used emergency powers to keep this coal plant and two other fossil fuel plants operating past their scheduled retirement dates, sparking criticism from environmental groups.