While some states are fighting the Trump administration’s push for emergency use of coal-fired power plants nationwide, the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma plans to be a part of the effort. So does an OG&E power plant.
The Oklahoma Watch reports the GRDA “shelved its plan to stop generating electricity at its last remaining coal unit in Chouteau and will instead spend millions on upgrades to keep it running for the next several years.”
The GRDA was one of the 12-coal-fired power plants that secured grants from the $500 million plan by President Trump to keep the domestic coal industry operating. The President made the announcement June 4 from the White House.
As a result, the U.S. Department of Energy will spend $28.5 million on upgrading the Grand River Energy Center Unit 2 and another $48 million will be financed by the GRDA. The upgrades will include modernizing the coal yard and material-handling infrastructure, water and air delivery systems and improvement of the unit’s high-pressure boiler.
The Energy Department also awarded a $22.5 million grant to Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.’s Sooner plant in Red Rock where technology used in operating and monitoring the power plant will be updated. The two coal units at the Red Rock facility dated to 1979 and 1980.
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co.’s Sooner plant in Red Rock received a $22.5 million grant from the Energy Department. It will update technology used to operate and monitor the power plant. The two coal units there date to 1979 and 1980.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said 17 coal plants that were scheduled to close last year instead will keep generating electricity because of actions by the Trump administration, reported Oklahoma Watch. The Energy Department is ordering coal plants to keep running under an emergency powers section of the Federal Power Act.
