Wedoany.com Report-Jun 3, On 30 May 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency directive requiring the Eddystone Generating Station in Pennsylvania to remain operational, just one day before the facility was scheduled to shut down. The plant, located on the Delaware River in Eddystone, south of Philadelphia, was set to close its final units on 31 May.

The plant has two remaining units capable of burning either natural gas or oil during times of high power demand.

The order invokes a federal legal provision typically used in emergencies such as extreme weather or national crises. Eddystone Generating Station, owned and operated by Constellation, began operating in 1960. It has a current generation capacity of 820MW and includes two units capable of using either natural gas or oil during periods of high electricity demand.

This development follows a similar directive issued on 23 May 2025, instructing the JH Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan, to stay online beyond its planned closure date. According to the administration, the measures are being taken in response to concerns over electricity shortages and system reliability.

Constellation confirmed on 31 May that it would implement immediate steps to maintain operations at Eddystone throughout the summer, while also reviewing the possibility of continued operation. The company is working closely with PJM Interconnection, the organization responsible for overseeing grid reliability across a large region extending from Washington, D.C. to Illinois.

In a statement released on the same day, PJM expressed its support for the Department of Energy's decision. PJM had previously accepted Constellation’s notice of retirement for the Eddystone plant after assessing potential impacts on grid reliability.

Constellation is also involved in plans to restart the closed Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Originally targeted for reactivation in 2028, the company now aims to bring the plant back online by 2027, in cooperation with PJM.

The emergency orders have received mixed responses. Kit Kennedy, Managing Director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said: “The Department of Energy’s move to keep these zombie plants online will have significant public health impacts and increase electricity costs for people in Michigan and Pennsylvania. These dirty and expensive fossil plants were slated to close because they could not compete with cheaper, cleaner alternatives.”

Despite the criticism, the Energy Department maintains that the decision is necessary to maintain grid stability during a period of increased energy demand. The situation continues to evolve as stakeholders evaluate the long-term implications for energy supply and infrastructure in the affected regions.