Federal court knocks down order saving Michigan coal plant
A federal court on Friday blocked the Trump administration from keeping a decades-old Michigan coal plant open based on an “emergency” order.
TL;DR
- A federal court blocked an emergency order to keep the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant, a 64-year-old Michigan coal plant, open.
- The plant was scheduled to close in May 2025 as part of a transition to cleaner energy.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright used emergency powers to extend its operation through August 2026, citing reliability concerns.
- Environmental groups and three states (Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota) sued to stop the order.
- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously that the invoked section of the Federal Power Act was not intended for such broader concerns.
- The court described the section as a 'narrow, last-resort backstop' and called the reversal of the plant's retirement 'disruptive'.
- Critics stated keeping the plant open has cost about $259 million so far.
- Wright argued the order would prevent loss of critical power generation capability during high demand periods.