US EditionTrump administration extends order keeping Michigan coal online past closure date
The Department of Energy's directive to keep the J.H. Campbell coal plant operating adds $80 million in costs and increases pollution despite state and grid operator opposition.
- On Tuesday the DOE directed the J.H. Campbell coal‑fired power plant in Michigan to stay open for 90 days under Section 202, marking the third emergency directive this year.
- Consumers Energy had planned to close the plant on May 31, but Michigan utility regulators and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator found its retirement would not threaten reliability for about 45 million people in 15 states.
- The utility reported $80 million in extra costs through September, more than $615,000 per day, while EPA data shows the Campbell plant, opened in 1962, can generate up to 1,450 megawatts for 1 million people.
- States and environmental advocates have gone to court to challenge the DOE's stay-open orders, while Consumers Energy acknowledged Wednesday it will continue operating Campbell despite Michigan Public Service Commission criticism and MISO's no winter reliability concern.
- Recently the DOE released $625 million for coal infrastructure while Grid Strategies found broad DOE authority use could add nearly $22 billion in costs and cancelled clean projects total $22 billion.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Dana Nessel tries for THIRD time to force closure of Ottawa County coal plant
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is again challenging the continued operation of Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive. A third order from the U.S. Department of Energy on Tuesday to continue operation of the plant through Feb. 17 triggered Nessel to file a motion to stay the extension the next day, with plans to request for a rehearing based on “a patent error of fact.” “DOE is using outdated information to …
Colorado clean air officials poised for another retreat in coal fight, environmental groups charge
Colorado health officials want to withdraw the looming closure of Xcel’s Comanche 2 coal power unit in Pueblo from federal review in order to extend its operations through expected high demand next summer, but environmental groups charge the Polis administration with further backsliding on dirty coal. A last-minute agenda item asks the Air Quality Control Commission on Thursday to approve a state letter pulling Comanche 2’s closure on Dec. 31 f…
Aging coal power plants, forced to stay open by Trump administration, are costing consumers millions
Aging coal power plants, forced to stay open by Trump administration, are costing consumers millions Electricity customers in 11 Midwestern states will have to pay $80 million to cover the cost of running an unneeded power plant. The J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant, one of the worst polluters in Michigan, was slated to close on May 31, 2025. Consumers Energy, the utility that owns the 60-year-old plant, had projected closing the expensive, …
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