Largest Utah Coal Plant Goes Quiet as Los Angeles Goes Coal-Free - CleanTechnica

Utah’s largest coal-fired power plant, the Intermountain Power Project (IPP), which primarily serves southern California, has ceased operations as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power quietly shut it down just before Thanksgiving. This shutdown occurred without any disruption to customers, despite the Utah Legislature’s decision to block the full retirement of the plant’s fossil fuel units and mandate that these units remain connected and not be decommissioned. However, no buyers have emerged to keep the aging coal facility operational, leaving it idled but legally required to stay on standby, raising questions about who will bear the costs of maintaining an obsolete plant. Environmental advocates, such as Zack Waterman from the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign, highlight that the seamless shutdown demonstrates that communities can maintain reliable power without relying on outdated coal plants. The move aligns with California’s broader transition toward cleaner energy sources. The Sierra Club, a prominent grassroots environmental organization, continues to promote clean energy and environmental protection through activism, education, and legal efforts