05:12 PM EDT, 03/17/2026 (MT Newswires) -- TransAlta ( TAC ) edged down in after-hours Nasdaq trading after the company on Tuesday said its TransAlta Centralia Generation unit received an order from the U.S. Department of Energy to keep its idled Centralia Unit 2 in Washington State available for operation for 90 days, until June 14.

TransAlta ( TAC ) said it is currently evaluating the order and will work with the state and federal governments. The order follows an earlier 90-day mandate for the coal-fired generation unit issued by the department on Dec.17.

The unit had been scheduled to close at the end of 2025. However U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a Monday release he is ordering the company to continue to keep it available to support coal-fired power. The unit, which is not operating, is the last potential source of coal-fired power in the state and comes despite Washington State passing a law last week to make the use of coal at the plant uneconomic.

"The Trump administration will continue taking action to keep America's coal plants running so we can stop the price spikes and ensure we don't lose critical generation sources. Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy to power their homes all the time, regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining," Wright said in a release.

TransAlta ( TAC ) shares were last seen down US$0.09 to US$12.46 after hours. They closed up C$0.12 to C$17.18 on Toronto Stock Exchange.