| Focus on the USA
● AES Puerto Rico, life extension and CCUS feasibility. AES Puerto Rico (Guayama, Puerto Rico) plans to retrofit and modernise the existing 510 MW Guayama coal fired plant “to ensure continued operation.” The scope includes a front end engineering design study for a post combustion carbon dioxide capture system. Funding: DOE $164 500 000; non-DOE $655 400 000; total $819 900 000.
● AES Warrior Run recommissioning. AES Warrior Run (Cumberland, Maryland) plans to recommission the 205 MW Warrior Run generating plant, which ceased operation in 2024. The project focuses on reactivating existing equipment through “routine maintenance and repairs.” The project scope will include assessing the feasibility of adding a carbon capture component to the plant. Funding: DOE $78 000 000; non-DOE $78 000 000; total $156 000 000.
4 June 2025 also saw the Energy Department announce that it will support 13 coal plants and coal export infrastructure with a $500 million investment provided from Defense Production Act (DPA) funding. These DPA funded projects are
as follows: ● Reliable, economical, and local advancement in modernized coal (RECLAIM-C). Alliant Energy Corporation (Columbia County, Wisconsin) is modernising its Columbia Energy Center, a coal fired plant in Pacific, Wisconsin. The initiative aims to “maintain dependable baseload service” and enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of the existing units. Funding: federal $19 000 000; non-federal $29 500 000; total $48 500 000.
● AEPCO ST3 modernization project. Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Inc (Cochise, Arizona) is embarking on a comprehensive modernisation and resiliency program at the Apache generating station. Funding: federal $20 826 000; non-federal $32 574 000; total $53 400 000.
● Antelope Valley station coal modernization. Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Mercer County, North Dakota) proposes modernisation of two coal fired units at the Antelope Valley power plant. Funding: federal $27 441 000; non-federal $42 559 000; total $70 000 000.
● East Bend coal reliability assurance initiative. Duke Energy Kentucky (Boone County, Kentucky) is undertaking upgrades at the East Bend coal fired power station. The upgrades will improve the plant’s operational flexibility, enhance overall efficiency, and boost generation capacity. Funding: federal $33 400 000; non-federal $50 043 088; total $83 443 088.
● Roxboro 2 & 3 coal reliability assurance initiative. Duke Energy Progress, Inc (Person County, North Carolina) will modernise and enhance the operational capabilities of the Roxboro coal fired plant. Funding: federal $28 400 000; non-federal $44 273 513; total $72 673 513.
● EKPC DOE coal recommissioning and modernization. East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc (Maysville, Kentucky and Pulaski, Kentucky) plans to modernise coal fired units at the H.L. Spurlock and and John Sherman Cooper generating stations. Each unit will undergo significant upgrades that will extend operational life, improve dispatch flexibility, and help ensure grid stability. Funding: federal $90 600 000; non-federal $271 800 000; total $362 400 000.
● MORE Oklahoma (Modernizing Oklahoma’s Rural Energy). Grand River Dam Authority (Chouteau, Oklahoma) will modernise its coal fired unit at the Grand River Energy Center, extending its operational life. Funding: federal $28 518 000; non-federal $48 061 000; total $76 579 000.
● Modernizing the Merom coal fired power station: effluent limitation guideline modernization project. Hallador Power Company (Merom, Indiana) is planning to modernise its Merom coal fired power station. Funding: federal $27 200 000; non-federal $42 491 006; total $69 691 006.
● Sooner DCS modernization project. Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (Red Rock, Oklahoma) is modernising the distributed control system and associated field devices at the Sooner power plant. Funding: federal $22 513 000; non-federal $35 212 674; total $57 725 674.
● Flint Creek coal plant modernization and resiliency program. Southwest Electric Power Company (Gentry, Arkansas) is embarking on a significant modernisation and resiliency programme at its Flint Creek coal fired plant in Gentry, Arkansas. The project involves upgrades that will reduce fuel requirements, improve plant operational efficiency and reliability, increase power generation capacity, and extend asset life, ensuring the plant’s continued role in providing grid stability and energy supply for Northwest Arkansas. Funding: federal $29 814 400; non-federal $44 721 600; total $74 536 000.
● TVA coal revitalization initiative. Tennessee Valley Authority (Stewart County, Tennessee) is embarking on a comprehensive coal revitalisation initiative at its Cumberland fossil fuelled power plant (see photo p10). This project aims to restore reliability, enhance efficiency, and extend the operational life of coal fired assets to meet regional demand for dispatchable power. Funding: federal $46 287 600; non-federal $69 431 400; total $115 719 000.
● Mitchell mechanical draft cooling tower modernization project. Wheeling Power Company (Moundsville, West Virginia) plans to modernise the Mitchell coal fired power plant. This upgrade will enhance regional grid reliability, reduce outage risk, and improve overall system efficiency, “contributing to regional energy affordability.” Funding: federal $51 000 000; non-federal $107 600 000; total $158 600 000.
● West Gateway Terminal project. The West Gateway Terminal project, spearheaded by
Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT), aims to expand coal export capacity at a strategic bulk commodities export terminal location. Funding: federal $75 000 000; non- federal $156 773 000; total $231 773 000.
Previous awards
Previously, in February 2026, the Department of Energy committed $175 million under the Restoring Reliability: Coal Recommissioning and Modernization initiative to six upgrade projects at
existing coal fired power plants: ● Amos and Mountaineer coal plant modernization and resiliency program. Appalachian Power Company (New Haven, West Virginia and Winfield, West Virginia). Funding: DOE $34 592 797; non-DOE $53 107 203; total $87 700 000.
This project will see upgrade of coal fired units at the Mountaineer power plant in New Haven, West Virginia, and at the John E. Amos power owned and operated by Appalachian Power Company (APCO), a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP), and “have strong track records of executing capital projects safely
At the Mountaineer plant, the electrostatic precipitator system will undergo a full modernisation in 2027, replacing ageing transformer/rectifier sets with advanced non high frequency units. This work will significantly improve particulate matter capture, reduce emissions, and enhance the reliability of the 1480 MW unit 1 boiler. Mountaineer will also restore its pendant reheater to its original design configuration to achieve the intended reheat outlet temperature, a change that will increase turbine efficiency. In addition, the existing hot roofs at Mountaineer will be replaced with modern, high-performance assemblies that strengthen insulation, improve structural integrity, and provide better sealing. At Amos, the project scope includes replacement of deteriorated internal components within the circulating water system — specifically the cooling tower fill and condenser tubes — to restore optimal performance. The plant will also be equipped with a new on-site coal combustion residue reuse loadout facility to support the handling and loading of synthetic gypsum and fly ash for transportation. Amos will undertake its own hot roof replacements, installing high performance assemblies that enhance insulation, strengthen structural durability, and improve sealing. Scheduled for completion in 2027, this upgrade will reduce maintenance demands, extend the life of the electrostatic precipitators, and improve the plant’s environmental performance.
● Modernization of Cardinal units 1 & 2: enhancing efficiency and rural energy reliability. Buckeye Power Inc (25-member utility co-operative) (Brilliant, Ohio). Funding: DOE $34 000 000; non-DOE $63 821 001; total $97 821 001.
The Cardinal modernisation project is a multi-year, 2027-2030, routine maintenance
www.modernpowersystems.com | July/August 2026 | 11
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