CenterPoint Energy Announces Costly Intention to Backtrack on Coal Retirements, Keeping Expensive Culley Plant Online Past 2027 - CleanTechnica

CenterPoint Energy has announced plans to reverse its previous commitment to retire all coal plants by 2027, specifically intending to keep the aging Culley Unit 3 coal plant operational beyond that date. The utility acknowledged that coal plants, including Culley, struggle to compete with renewable and gas energy on short-term costs and suffer from increased maintenance and frequent outages due to their outdated design. Despite studies indicating that retiring Culley Unit 3 would be the lowest-cost option, CenterPoint did not consider retirement before 2032, raising concerns about higher costs and reliability risks for customers. Environmental advocates, including Nicole Chandler of Southwest Indiana Beyond Coal, criticized CenterPoint’s decision, highlighting the plant’s age, unreliability, and high maintenance costs. They argue that extending Culley’s operation contradicts the promise to transition to cleaner, more affordable energy sources like solar and wind. The Sierra Club, a prominent environmental organization, supports efforts to move away from coal to protect community health and promote sustainable energy solutions.