April 23, 2026 -  President Trump on Tuesday praised an agreement that will allow two coal-fired power plants to remain open for several more years, crediting his administration with helping deliver a “BIG WIN” for the commonwealth.

The Conemaugh Station in Indiana County and Keystone Station in Armstrong County, both operated by Keystone-Conemaugh Projects LLC (Key-Con), were slated to close in December 2028 after the company determined energy demands were not high enough for it to invest the millions of dollars required to meet federal wastewater pollution standards, local outlet ABC27 News reported.

“Radical Left Lunatics wanted to get rid of these wonderful Plants in favor of WIND FARMS, which kill the birds, and are both costly and ineffective,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will never allow that to happen! Thankfully, we struck a deal to guarantee these Plants will not be ‘retired.’”

“I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THE FANTASTIC PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA!” he added.

The agreement allows the plants, which each produce approximately 1,700 megawatts of electricity, to continue operating through 2032 as long as they make upgrades to wastewater treatment equipment at both facilities, according to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) office.

The governor’s office is seeking approval on the consent decree from the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas to finalize the terms of the settlement.

“Allowing the plants to continue operating under enforceable environmental requirements will help avoid supply shortfalls that can drive up electricity prices for consumers across the region,” Shapiro’s office noted in a press release. “The required upgrades will ensure compliance with federal wastewater standards, significantly reducing the potential for pollutants to enter Pennsylvania waterways.”

The agreement also requires Key-Con to pay a $150 daily penalty while operating the plants until upgrades are complete, with additional penalties up to $1,500 per day if it does not follow the outlined timeline for upgrades.

Shapiro also applauded the deal in a post on the social platform X, framing it as a step toward tackling rising energy costs for Pennsylvania consumers.  

“Here in Pennsylvania, we will continue to protect energy jobs, generate enough energy to support the regional grid, AND defend our right to clean our and pure water, too,” he said.