Stanton coal power plant. Photo from Orlando Utilities Commission.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Trump Administration invoked its so-called “energy emergency” to force the Stanton coal plant in Orlando to remain open beyond its planned retirement at the end of May 2026.
The facility, which was scheduled to go into extended cold shut down—meaning it will stop generating electricity and power down in preparation for retirement—was part of a closure plan that the Orlando Utilities Commission had been preparing for since 2020, when the retirement was incorporated into utility’s ten-year site plan. The closure also aligned with the City of Orlando’s commitment to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, with interim clean energy goals guiding progress along the way. Stanton’s retirement was a key part of this transition plan.
According to an updated Sierra Club analysis, the Stanton coal plant is responsible for an estimated 45 premature deaths each year due to air pollution. Beyond these drastic health consequences, keeping the plant operational will also increase costs for customers across the region. According to the Sierra Club’s Burning Money map, extending Stanton’s operations will cost Florida ratepayers an additional $233,560 per day. Those costs will ultimately be passed on to households and businesses through higher utility bills.
