TransAlta public comment period: Environmental review and air permit for coal to gas transition
July 31, 2026, 12 a.m. - September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m.)

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Comment From: Nick H

9/15/26 @ 9:36 PM

A lack of holding accountability for TransAlta here among the many instances in which the SEPA process has failed local communities and Washingtonians. Do not issue this permit and do not issue a MDNS. Carbon lock-in is a dangerous trend in the retro...↓

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Comment From: Michelle Williams

9/15/26 @ 7:42 PM

While gas is indeed cleaner than coal, that's not saying much. It is too late in terms of climate harm to convert to gas for the next decade plus and then go green. The best time to go green was decades ago but the next best time is right now. And de...↓

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Comment From: Cathryn Chudy

9/15/26 @ 6:25 PM

I strongly oppose transition to a gas-fired facility. We cannot continue to burn fossil fuels especially in light of the September 2026 UN Report "Limiting Overshoot" that warns we must cut emissions, reducing fossil fuels much faster - we can't do ...↓

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Comment From: Michael Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 4:49 PM

I oppose this project because of the increased CO2, NOx, and PM2.5 that will be emitted by this converted power plant. All these emissions cause harm to people and the environment. There is ample evidence in the scientific and medical literature th...↓

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Comment From: Earthjustice on behalf of NWEC... (Victor Zertuche)

9/15/26 @ 3:04 PM

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 2:46 PM

Outrageous.. To quote transalta's Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permit Application:
"Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) will be controlled using good combustion practices. Particulate matter (PM), sulfur...↓ dioxide (SO2)1, and sulfuric acid mist (H2SO4 ) emissions will be controlled through good combustion practices and the use of clean-burning pipeline-quality natural gas."
This is ridiculous PR language. "Controlling" some toxins isn't eliminating them, and doesn't address climate-changing CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions and CH4 (methane) leaks.
To add insult to injury, your (the "Ecology") documented response to that PSD permit application is, to quote:
"Ecology also reviewed the proposed project to determine how it would impact the environment. We considered environmental, historical, and cultural factors. TransAlta has proposed mitigation to reduce project impacts. The proposed PSD permit would increase emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The proposed permit will not cause or contribute to violations of any national air quality standards (NAAQS) or PSD increments requirements. An increment is the amount of increased pollution an area is allowed. It prevents air quality in clean areas from getting worse. Ecology's proposed decision: Ecology proposes to issue the PSD permit."
So you have considered some cultural factors but completely ignored ecological, existential ones (our climate!). The national air quality standards are outdated and compromised by fossil lobby. The wildfire smoke is not even mentioned as part of the bigger picture. The Centralia area is doomed to remain polluted forever because, to quote Ecology, "It prevents air quality in clean areas from getting worse." This line of reasoning is beyond appalling to say the least.
It's a shame that the planet-warming GHG emissions aren't even mentioned anywhere in your assessment, not once! And these emissions-caused droughts impacting agriculture, and lowering hydro power outputs at the dams as our rivers lose strengths. And the increasing number of people dying in deadly heatwaves and the wildfire smoke each summer. If WA Ecology exists for a sole purpose of rubber-stamping every new deep-pocketed AI & fossil project just to collect hefty permitting fees, there is a word for that.

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Comment From: Kristin Edmark

9/15/26 @ 2:39 PM

Please do not approve the air permit for the conversion of the Trans Alta Centralia conversion of coal to gas. Conversion promotes continued burning of fossil fuel and therefore continued degradation of climate at a critical time when we must decreas...↓

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Comment From: Peggy LovellFord

9/15/26 @ 1:26 PM

Changing a coal plant to a methane plant does not move us towards the Washington state clean energy goal. I see this more as an excuse to make money and fuel AI data centers. This is not what the majority of residence in Washington supported any psy...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 12:53 PM

Donald Trump is exercising his wasteful power in this situation. He is using his position to effect state action to make people believe using coal as energy is cleaner and better than natural gas. Out of the options I suggest it should be transformed...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 12:51 PM

I think that the power plant should stay open.

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Comment From: Adam Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 11:47 AM

We should not be allowing new fossil fuel production in our state. Why was it determined that the NOx, SOx and PM2.5 air pollution are not concerning enough to be noted in the Department of Ecology review? These are pollutants that will still exist w...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 11:15 AM

The power plant needs to be shut down. Continued operation will exacerbate anthropogenic climate change through sustained greenhouse gas emissions and the release of noxious pollutants. This trajectory poses a direct threat to public health and shift...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 11:13 AM

"It's time to close this plant down. It creates way more pollution than usable power, runs too inefficiently to make a difference, and is doing serious damage to our environment."

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Comment From: Martine Smets

9/15/26 @ 11:13 AM

Hello,
Transitioning away from an existing coal-fired electrical generation facility in Lewis County to generate electricity is definitely needed. But it should be replaced by a clean energy electricity generating facility, not a natural gas one. We ...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 10:57 AM

It is time for the federal government to stop interfering with Washington's clean energy transition and permanently close the TransAlta Centralia coal plant. For years, this facility has stood as the state's largest single climate polluter. Forcing i...↓

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Comment From: Lauren Flottorp

9/15/26 @ 10:28 AM

I oppose the plan to convert the TransAlta coal plant in Lewis County to methane gas. We should not be exchanging one fossil fuel for another, we should instead shut down the plant and rapidly build renewable energy. There are severe health effects o...↓

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Comment From: Gordon Wheat

9/15/26 @ 10:20 AM

If we spend the money to convert from coal to gas, this expense will need to be amortized over the life expectancy of a new gas power plant, and we will be saddled with the health consequences of buring fossile fuels for another 40-50 years. This is ...↓

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Comment From: Burt Culver

9/15/26 @ 10:03 AM

The Department of Ecology should withdraw its Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance (MDNS) for the proposed TransAlta coal-to-gas conversion and require a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Swapping one fossil fuel for another c...↓ommits Washington to decades of high-emission infrastructure at the precise moment our regional climate realities demand a real transition to modern clean power.

A project of this scale cannot be evaluated in isolation, and the current environmental assessment suffers from critical structural flaws:

Distorted Emissions Baseline via 100-Year GWP: The SEPA analysis omits the near-term warming impact of upstream methane leakage from hydraulic fracturing, compression, and pipeline distribution. Over a critical 20-year horizon, methane is more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Using an extended 100-year metric conceals the front-loaded warming impacts of supplying fuel to this facility.

Misclassification as a Peaker Plant: Regulating this facility under peaker-plant rules while permitting an operational capacity factor as high as 59% exploits a loophole in Washington's emissions standards (RCW 80.80). A facility running at that duty cycle operates as mid-merit baseline power, locking in over 2 million metric tons of direct CO₂ annually through 2044—well past the statutory mandates established under the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA).

Grid Resilience False Dilemma: Long-term energy security will not come from tying Washington's grid to volatile, pipeline-dependent fuel inputs. System reliability is better built through distributed regional capacity, utility-scale battery storage, targeted efficiency improvements, and modernized transmission routing. Approving this facility underwrites Puget Sound Energy's reliance on dirty baseloads while consumers face substantial pending rate increases.

Unexamined End-Use Demand: Project disclosures indicate this generation capacity is being preserved to support intensive industrial compute and data center expansion, with potential conversion pathways extending to Unit 1. Ecology must evaluate this lifecycle footprint holistically rather than pretending this generation exists in an isolated vacuum.

Washington communities are already dealing with unprecedented wildfire seasons, stressed water resources, and prolonged drought. Adding 42 million metric tons of lifetime carbon emissions directly compounds these system vulnerabilities.

Ecology must retract the MDNS, order an exhaustive EIS that accounts for full lifecycle methane leakage and actual operational capacity, and reject this conversion permit.

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 9:08 AM

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Comment From: Maribelle Cardens

9/15/26 @ 9:06 AM

Closing the Centralia power plant significantly cuts air pollution and helps fight climate change by ending coal use. However, the region must replace that electricity and create new local jobs to prevent power outages and economic hardship.

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Comment From: Meredith Wiley

9/15/26 @ 9:05 AM

The power plant needs to be shut down. Switching from one fossil fuel to another won't necessarily reduce air pollutants and will likely add more, and different kinds. Please shut it down.

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 9:02 AM

Please shut the plant down. The last thing we need right now is more fossil fuels in our environment. Replacing coal with another fossil fuel doesn't make global warming less impactful, and it doesn't slow it down. Replacing it with clean and renewab...↓

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Comment From: Cash Hollett

9/15/26 @ 8:59 AM

I think that the convertion of coal to gas is a priority for public health and air quality but I do not believe it takes precedence over the availability of energy in the area. If it is possible to convert the plant without changing the reliability a...↓

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Comment From: Anonymous Anonymous

9/15/26 @ 8:57 AM

the power plant is causing MORE greenhouse gases to be produced than it is producing energy. if it has been dormant, or even semi dormant, then it is not going to help any of us especially with all of the pollution it is bringing. Washington is suppo...↓

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Comment From: Adelia Pintler

9/15/26 @ 8:53 AM

Please close the power plant; it is producing more greenhouse gas than engergy that it produces is worth. It doesn't run at the level it would need to be to even help, and it is damaging.

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Comment From: ben guss

9/15/26 @ 7:37 AM

As the document show the pollution from this proposal, will have negative effects on our environment and on our local children. Please consider future generations and our environment.

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Comment From: Jayson Osborne

9/15/26 @ 6:31 AM

Our planet is on fire. Our country is on fire. Washington State is on fire. Burning additional fossil fuels is irresponsible and is the exact opposite response that we need right now to stabilize the climate. I oppose construction of fossil gas-p...↓

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Comment From: Centralia Chehalis Chamber of ... (Kevin CARNS)

9/14/26 @ 7:09 PM

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Comment From: Centralia Downtown Association (MacKenzie McGee)

9/14/26 @ 11:16 AM

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Comment From: Exodus Engineering (Luke Moerke)

9/14/26 @ 9:58 AM

I strongly support the conversion of the TransAlta coal plant to natural gas. Our state has come out against cheap and efficient fuels for households, such as natural gas, but if the electric generating plant could be converted from coal to natural g...↓

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Comment From: TODD CHAPUT

9/14/26 @ 9:02 AM

Reliable access to electricity is an expectation of the general public. As we transition from fossil fuels to a cleaner and more sustainable option, it is vital that we more forward in a manner that encourages this transition but recognizes that we ...↓

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Comment From: Economic Alliance of Lewis Cou... (TODD CHAPUT)

9/14/26 @ 8:53 AM

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Comment From: Oil and Gas Action Network (OG... (Valerie Costa)

9/14/26 @ 8:20 AM

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Comment From: Nikolas Naranjo

9/13/26 @ 9:06 PM

I fully support TransAlta's coal-to-gas conversion at the Centralia plant. Nat gas is far superior to natural gas for baseload and peaking power. It is abundant, domestically sourced, and delivers far higher energy density per unit, which means lower...↓

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Comment From: Michael Thomas

9/11/26 @ 2:37 PM

I support TransAlta's conversion to natural gas. Knowing Centralia's need for electricity, jobs, and the community's desire for appropriate natural conservation, the conversion to natural gas is a good intermediate step away from coal. Ultimately, co...↓

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Comment From: Bob Guenther

9/10/26 @ 10:21 AM

I believe we should permit the unit 2 power plant at Centralia to convert to Natural Gas fuel. As a govermental affairs employee of IBEW 77 for many years I advocated for the conversion to Natural Gas.

We have a need for the electrons to be provide...↓

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Comment From: Jay Kuhn

9/08/26 @ 7:05 PM

It is unbelievable that WA, of all places, that aspires to a leader in green energy would give any consideration to building a new fossil fuel plant. But this is not just wanting to "be green".
It seems to me some one is not doing their homework. ...↓

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Comment From: Charlie Brown

9/03/26 @ 1:36 PM

Comment file attached.

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Comment From: Lewis County (Mindy Brooks)

9/03/26 @ 9:23 AM

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Comment From: Robin Miller

9/01/26 @ 8:55 PM

I'm deeply disappointed to see our own Department of Ecology undercut the Clean Energy Transformation Act and use a conversion to keep this plant running for two more decades — sidestepping the coal phase-out SB 5769 mandated.

This deal locks Washin...↓

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Comment From: richard weiss

9/01/26 @ 9:19 AM

This project will further degrade air quality and add airborn and other industrial polution to fragile river environments an populated areas. STOP IT!

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Comment From: LInda Bevis

8/31/26 @ 8:46 AM

No no no no. We should not be moving from one fossil fuel to another. No to gas. Our planet is on fire. We must slow down climate change spark by spark. No to fast tracking your review of this project. Look at this carefully. Realize that we cannot a...↓

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Comment From: Jan Wachholz

8/30/26 @ 4:35 PM

Washington has positioned itself as a global climate leader, but approving this expensive and dirty project as-is would move our state in the wrong direction. TransAlta is deliberately misleading the public and state regulators must commit to a robus...↓

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Comment From: CLARK NICHOLSON

8/30/26 @ 4:20 PM

Converting from coal to gas, another fossil fuel, makes no sense. Burning fossil fuels of any kind spews poisonous gases into the atmosphere, destroying our beautiful planet for generations to come. Please, install a clean battery system like Califor...↓

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Comment From: Timothy Walsh

8/30/26 @ 1:18 PM

Comments re: TransAlta proposal
Converting two coal-fired power plants at the TransAlta facility to natural gas is foolish. First, let's be clear: Natural gas is a euphemism that's meant to pretty-up what's going on.
The gas in question in this inst...↓

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Comment From: Rosemary Moore

8/26/26 @ 7:04 PM

This comment is in response to the Washington Department of Ecology's support for a new "natural" gas power plant on the shuttered coal plant in Centralia by the Canadian TransAlta corporation.
I strongly oppose the plant and urge you to invest in mo...↓re renewable energy.
2026 is set to be another extremely hot year as a result of our continuing reliance on fossil fuels, the climate change that is already occurring and an El Niño. Years like these are no longer an aberration: they are the new normal, bringing with them unbearable heat waves, uncontained destructive wildfires, droughts, and flooding which all cause devastating injuries and hardship.
It is shocking that our utilities (many of which are for-profit and answerable to shareholders) continue with business as usual and fail to urgently address our greenhouse gas emissions. As a parent and grandparent, I urge you to ensure that we fulfil Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA)'s requirements for the sake of our environment and current and future generations.
It is argued, falsely, that this project is needed because the region faces capacity deficits and reliability risks. However, the SEPA provides a choice of EITHER continuing coal operations OR building a new gas turbine. Neither is acceptable. We must instead properly evaluate other alternatives such as investing in more renewable energy, improving our grid/ transmission upgrades, energy efficiency, long-duration energy storage, and distributed energy resources. Omitting these alternatives is a false choice, suggesting that gas conversion is the only practical response when these other combinations of resources can also address reliability and sufficiency concerns, without the highly destructive consequences of continuing to rely on fossil fuels.
It is particularly shortsighted to raise the risk of brownouts and blackouts when continued reliance on fossil fuels will have – and is having far worse consequences than occasional blackouts. Further, blackouts are not inevitable; there are other alternatives: better storage, better transmission, and more renewables. The SEPA also uses coal as the comparator and baseline (hardly a convincing argument!), fails to look at the total actual lifetime greenhouse gas emissions that will be emitted from the gas plant, or the comparative absolute health costs and emissions that will result from choosing gas over renewables. Economically, PSE es even seeking a rate hike to pay for this polluting gas plant. If we must pay more, we should be investing in renewables. Finally, when considering future needs we must require data centers to be powered by renewable energy if they are to be allowed in this state. Why should we poison our world to accommodate these when they are well able to be powered by renewables, and should be?
I urge you not to rubber stamp this proposal and to deny it. Thank you for considering this comment.

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Comment From: Washington Physicians for Soci... (Claire Richards)

8/24/26 @ 5:32 PM

This comment is in response to the Washington Department of Ecology's support for a new "natural" gas power plant on the shuttered coal plant in Centralia by the Alberta-based TransAlta corporation.

Due to the continued burning of fossil fuels, we e...↓

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Comment From: Bill Knepper

8/22/26 @ 3:36 PM

I am a strong supporter of TransAlta and this conversion process in particular. TransAlta has been a great friend to Lewis County and the schools of the county. They have been a good neighbor and endeavor to live side by side with the communities aro...↓

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Comment From: Grace Thornton

8/21/26 @ 9:30 AM

Conversion of existing coal burning boiler to natural gas is an acceptable move forward for the facility. Natural gas is a cleaner burning product than coal and should have been done many years ago. All conversions to natural gas are highly recommend...↓

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Comment From: michael kirsch

8/13/26 @ 7:30 AM

Comment
I request a public hearing.

WA state "Officials" Cannot be trusted. They're removing Clean Green energy producing dams, spending Billions to half ass replace them and our rates are going up with every misstep.

- $351,000,000 to remove 28MG...↓

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Comment From: Katherine Allowatt

8/11/26 @ 12:55 PM

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on TransAlta's proposal to transition one unit of its coal‑fired facility to natural gas and construct a new 1,500‑foot pipeline. As a resident of Centralia, I support efforts to reduce emissions, but I am con...↓cerned about the mitigation requirements and long‑term follow‑through identified in the SEPA checklist and the draft PSD permit materials.

Based on the documents provided (including the SEPA checklist, Mitigated Determination of Nonsignificance, and draft PSD permit) it is clear that the project has environmental, cultural, and historical impacts that must be addressed before moving forward. My concerns include:

Mitigation clarity and enforceability: The MDNS identifies impacts that require mitigation, but the public needs assurance that these measures are specific, measurable, and enforceable over time. Please ensure that mitigation commitments are not left to future interpretation or voluntary compliance.

Pipeline construction impacts: Even though the pipeline is on TransAlta‑owned land, construction still poses risks to soils, water pathways, vegetation, and wildlife. I request more detail on how impacts will be minimized during trenching, installation, and restoration, and how monitoring will occur afterward.

Air quality and cumulative impacts: Transitioning to natural gas reduces some pollutants but increases others (including methane leakage risk). The PSD permit should clearly outline how TransAlta will monitor emissions, prevent leaks, and report compliance transparently to the community.

Water resource protection: As someone who lives in Centralia and is directly affected by local water quality and hydrology, I am especially concerned about potential impacts to groundwater, stormwater pathways, and nearby surface waters. Please ensure that mitigation measures fully address both construction phase and operational water risks.

Long‑term accountability: Mitigation is only meaningful if it is followed through. I request that Ecology include strong monitoring requirements, public reporting expectations, and clear consequences for non‑compliance.

I appreciate Ecology's review and the identification of required mitigation. Before the project proceeds, I urge Ecology to strengthen the conditions in the PSD permit and MDNS to ensure that environmental protections are durable, enforceable, and transparent to the Centralia community.

Thank you for considering my comments.

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Comment From: Shannon Day

8/11/26 @ 10:04 AM

I am interested in attending the public hearing on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 6 p.m. online

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Comment From: Climate Solutions (James Hove)

8/11/26 @ 8:34 AM

On behalf of Climate Solutions, I am respectfully requesting public hearings about the environmental review and draft air permit (Prevention of Significant Deterioration, PSD) for TransAlta's proposed coal-to-gas transition project. This includes an ...↓

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Comment From: Karen Harrold

8/10/26 @ 5:05 PM

Please hold a public hearing

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Comment From: Bill Jordan

8/10/26 @ 3:44 PM

I'm requesting the public hearing on August 19, 2026.

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Comment From: Brad Morrill

8/10/26 @ 12:47 PM

I would like infoemation on the "new clean energy" program to benefit local community members near the projected site. I kive 2.89 miles (as the crow flies) NW of site.

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Comment From: Jessep Englert

8/06/26 @ 2:23 PM

Would the cap and invest program usage by TransAlta not conflict with the PSD air quality permit requirements, including the implementation of the Best Available Control Technology (BACT) to minimize emissions and maintain clean air resources? There ...↓

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Comment From: Washington Conservation Action (Julian Santos)

8/06/26 @ 10:53 AM

We would like to request a public hearing. We do not require interpretation.

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Comment From: carrie aadland

8/05/26 @ 1:30 PM

A short comment. The plan put in place to convert the TransAlta mine is a good one. No need to modify and don´t bow down to the federal administration.

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Comment From: Dale Meck

8/03/26 @ 6:09 PM

I would request that Ecology (and the State more broadly) clarify how "clean energy" is being defined in this context. Is the term based solely on operational greenhouse gas emissions, or does it also consider lifecycle environmental impacts such as ...↓

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Comment From: Ryan Crompton

8/01/26 @ 11:20 PM

I support this project but only as a peaker plant that is used in a way that minimizes cost to rate payers and keeps emissions to a minimum. Additionally I believe TransAlta should be required to develop clean energy generation and/or energy saving p...↓

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Comment From: Melanie Klym

7/31/26 @ 3:29 PM

I respectfully request that you hold a public hearing to further consider how the conversion of this power plant is affecting the conditions in the Skookumchuck River via the Skookumchuck Dam.

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TransAlta public comment period: Environmental review and air permit for coal to gas transition July 31, 2026, 12 a.m. - September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m.)

TransAlta public comment period: Environmental review and air permit for coal to gas transition
July 31, 2026, 12 a.m. - September 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from September 6, 2026, 11:59 p.m.)