Editing Centralia, Washington (section)

===TransAlta Coal Mine and Power Plant===
On November 28, 2006, it was announced that [[TransAlta]], the largest employer in Centralia and operator of the [[Centralia Coal Mine]] and [[Centralia Power Plant]], would eliminate over 550 coal mining jobs; the coal mine was the last operational mine in the state. The mine, which spread over {{convert|14,000|acre|ha}}, had been owned by TransAlta since 2000. The company offered land donations to the city, as well as financial contributions to the local community to offset economic losses, in the wake of the closure.<ref name="SLCMS">{{cite news |last1=Bernton |first1=Hal |title=State's last coal mine shuts; Centralia hit hard |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/states-last-coal-mine-shuts-centralia-hit-hard/ |access-date=April 11, 2024 |work=The Seattle Times |date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> Despite fears that the city would suffer economically from the closure,<ref name="SLCMS"/> there was little noticeable economic effect upon the City of Centralia as a result. Data indicated that Centralia was experiencing growth both in its light industrial areas as well as its core business district, the historic downtown Centralia.<ref>Boone, Rolf. [https://archive.today/20140913224159/http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/109419.html ''Unemployment claims dropped more than 300 from peak, report says'']. The Olympian. May 17, 2007.</ref> The mine has since undergone a reclamation to fill, regrade, dredge water sources, and plant new trees. {{As of|2023}}, half of the reclamation project was considered complete. The site has been determined as a potential recreation area once the recovery processes are complete.<ref name="LCCB">{{cite news |last1=Geraldo |first1=Renata |title=Lewis County's Centralia bets on clean energy as coal economy fades |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/lewis-countys-centralia-bets-on-clean-energy-as-coal-economy-fades/ |access-date=July 20, 2023 |work=The Seattle Times |date=May 30, 2023}}</ref> During the mine's opening, {{convert|160000000|t|st}} of coal were extracted and used at the plant.<ref name="NPRSL">{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Julie |title=NPR shines national spotlight on Centralia and TransAlta |url=https://www.chronline.com/stories/julie-mcdonald-npr-shines-national-spotlight-on-centralia-and-transalta,339814#google_vignette |access-date=June 10, 2024 |work=The Chronicle |date=May 6, 2024}}</ref>

The power plant, completed in two unit stages in the early 1970s and owned by TransAlta since 2000, is Washington state's last energy factory powered by coal. At its peak, it generated energy ample enough to power [[Los Angeles]]. The plant is situated on {{convert|11,000|acre|ha}} and is expected to permanently close in 2025 based on an agreement reached with the state in 2011.  The first phase of the shutdown was completed in 2020. The energy produced until its closure is used by [[Puget Sound Energy]] (PSE) and according to 2022 figures, 14.5% of PSE's electric load came from the TransAlta coal plant, enough to supply power to 300,000 homes. Future plans include the operating of several [[green energy]] facilities, including generating power via hydrogen and fusion, and the decommissioning of the Centralia Coal Mine is expected to incorporate renewable energy machinery as the coal plant closes.<ref name="LCCB"/> 

During the closures, TransAlta created a $20 million fund for training and educational work programs for remaining employees of the plant.<ref name="LCCB"/> Part of a larger Centralia Coal Transition Grants initiative, other grants include millions for energy efficiency and technology for nearby communities and schools. The land at the site has slowly been reclaimed for public and commercial use, including the planting of trees and maintaining wetland areas.<ref name="NPRSL"/>