Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order Sept. 1 directing the Orlando Utilities Commission to keep Unit 1 at the Stanton Energy Center available to operate.
The coal-fired unit in Orlando had been slated for an extended cold shutdown beginning in June 2026. DOE said the order is meant to address grid reliability concerns in Florida and limit the risk and cost of blackouts. It takes effect Sept. 2 and runs through Nov. 30, 2026.
“Taking reliable generation offline compromises energy reliability and needlessly raises energy costs for Americans,” Secretary Wright said. “The Trump Administration will continue to ensure that Floridians have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power their homes.”
The department cited its Resource Adequacy Report, which warned that power outages could increase sharply by 2030 if reliable generation continues to leave the grid. DOE said more than 17 gigawatts of coal-fired generation were kept online in 2025.
The Florida action follows earlier Federal Power Act section 202(c) orders involving Stanton Unit 1, including an order that ran from June 4 through Sept. 1, 2026. Environmental groups previously sought rehearing of that directive.