Coal Plant Grid Reliability & Legal Risk Explorer

Scenario Parameters

PJM Target Reserve Margin 15.0% Baseline regulatory reliability threshold

Baseline System Margin 16.2% Installed margin prior to emergency order stay

Rapid Clean Capacity Replacement 0 MW Interconnection queue battery / solar fast-track

Simulation Previews

Legal Precedent Summary

Federal Power Act § 202(c) Limits

The D.C. Circuit appeals court ruled that federal emergency orders cannot be used to sustain uneconomic merchant coal plants indefinitely without demonstrating an acute, imminent physical emergency.

Precedent: Overrules executive attempts to bypass wholesale capacity auction market mechanisms.
Implication: Directives forcing Cumberland (2,600 MW) & Gavin (2,600 MW) into forced service deemed unauthorized.
Reliability Impact: Grid operators must procure replacement capacity or adjust reserve margins via market clearing.

Regional Grid Reserve Margin Visualizer PJM Interconnection (2027/2028 Delivery Outlook)

Target Reserve

15.0%

Current / Baseline

16.2%

Projected Post-Ruling

14.1%

Critical Reliability Floor: 15.0% Deficit: -0.9% below target

Tracked Coal Plant Portfolio Toggle mandate statuses to assess grid stress

Plant Name	Region	Capacity	Mandate Status	Legal Vulnerability	Grid Risk Contribution

* "Forced Stay (Illegal)" designates units kept open under the vacated emergency orders. Total Monitored Capacity: 8,884 MW