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Released November 20, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Danny Levin, Deputy Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)
The agency issued its first order just before the plant was scheduled to close, and another in August. The new order is in effect beginning on November 19 and continues until February 17, 2026.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can read the related plant profiles.
The Federal Power Act authorizes the DOE secretary to allow--or require--power plants to operate during defined emergencies for up to 90 days. Section 202(C) of the act specifically allows the agency to order the running of plants during war, or when there is a power shortage or surge in demand.
"Because of the last administration's dangerous energy subtraction policies targeting reliable and affordable energy sources, the United States continues to face an energy emergency," Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a press release. "The Trump administration will keep taking action to reverse these energy subtraction policies, lowering energy costs and minimizing the risks of blackouts."
The DOE said the plant has proven critical to MISO's operations during periods of high demand and low levels of intermittent production, such as generation provided by renewable sources.
"The emergency conditions that led to the issuance of the original orders persist," according to the press release.
In addition, two recent winter studies from the National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) have assessed the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) area has having the "potential for insufficient operating reserves in above-normal conditions."
For information on the initial order, see May 28, 2025, article - Federal Order Keeps 60-Year-Old Michigan Coal Plant Running.
However, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) latest annual winter reliability assessment, released Tuesday, concludes MISO has enough resources to meet the area's power demand, even when there's extreme demand and generator outages.
Michigan's energy regulator, the Michigan Public Service Commission--after input from the state's Department of the Attorney General--and MISO both approved Consumer Energy's initial plan for shutting down the J.H. Campbell plant.
After requesting a rehearing with the DOE to review the initial order and not receiving a response, Nessel and the groups--which include the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council--filed petitions with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit challenging the legality of the orders.
"The closure of this coal-powered electric plant has been planned for years, the utility made all due preparations to maintain our energy load without it, and the closure has been agreed to and cited in settlements affecting customer costs," Nessel said in a press release announcing the court filing.
The "unprecedented" order "declares an emergency without evidence, completely ignores state and federal regulators that approved the plants retirement, and will potentially put enormous costs onto utility customers who receive no real benefit."
The Sierra Club said in October that Consumers Energy's latest quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stated that keeping the plant open after the initial 90-day order in May cost ratepayers $53 million, even after accounting for energy revenues. The second order, issued in August, had already cost ratepayers $27 million, the group added.
In August, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved MISO's plan for ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states to pay for the plant costs, a proposal environmental groups have since urged the FERC to reject.
In Consumer Energy's third-quarter earnings conference call on October 30, Chief Financial Officer Rejji Hayes discussed the cost recovery. "Once we have started to receive recovery of the investments and of the spend from MISO North and central customers based on the construct we outlined with FERC ... we would refund Michigan customers for their share that they've already contributed."
The latest pushback, also citing adequate resources and the continued costs for ratepayers, came from the Michigan House of Representatives' 52 Democrats--who recently brought forward a resolution urging Wright to stop issuing extensions for the plant.
According to news reports, the Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association (Westminster, Colorado)--a cooperative of members that provides power to more than 1 million customers in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska--has indicated the government will order it to extend the life of the 446-megawatt, coal-fired Unit 1 at the three-unit Craig Power Station in Colorado. Tri-State operates the Craig station, and co-owns units 1 and 2 with the Salt River Project (Tempe, Arizona), the Platte River Power Authority (Fort Collins, Colorado), PacifiCorp (Portland, Oregon) and Xcel Energy (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Tri-State fully owns Unit 3.
Tri-State spokesperson Mark Stutz has in recent weeks has said he expects the DOE will issue an order by the end of the year. However, "we do have legal requirements to close that unit, but we also are closing it for economic reasons," he told Canary Media, while telling the Colorado Sun that Tri-State is following the court cases challenging the DOE's similar orders.
Unit 1 is scheduled to close at the end of the year, while the other two units are set to close in 2028. Tri-State did not disclose the costs it would incur due to an emergency order.
Subscribers can view the Craig plant profile.
Key Takeaways
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Summary
Despite ongoing pushback, the U.S. federal government extended an order keeping the J.H. Campbell coal-fired plant running in Michigan. The Trump administration is looking to extend the life of other coal plants.J.H. Campbell Coal-Fired Plant's Background
Citing the risk of high demand, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued its third order keeping Consumers Energy's (Jackson, Mississippi) 60-year-old, 1.5-gigawatt (GW) J.H. Campbell coal-fired plant in Michigan open, well after it was initially scheduled to close in May.The agency issued its first order just before the plant was scheduled to close, and another in August. The new order is in effect beginning on November 19 and continues until February 17, 2026.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Plant Database can read the related plant profiles.
The Federal Power Act authorizes the DOE secretary to allow--or require--power plants to operate during defined emergencies for up to 90 days. Section 202(C) of the act specifically allows the agency to order the running of plants during war, or when there is a power shortage or surge in demand.
"Because of the last administration's dangerous energy subtraction policies targeting reliable and affordable energy sources, the United States continues to face an energy emergency," Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a press release. "The Trump administration will keep taking action to reverse these energy subtraction policies, lowering energy costs and minimizing the risks of blackouts."
The DOE said the plant has proven critical to MISO's operations during periods of high demand and low levels of intermittent production, such as generation provided by renewable sources.
"The emergency conditions that led to the issuance of the original orders persist," according to the press release.
In addition, two recent winter studies from the National Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC) have assessed the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) area has having the "potential for insufficient operating reserves in above-normal conditions."
For information on the initial order, see May 28, 2025, article - Federal Order Keeps 60-Year-Old Michigan Coal Plant Running.
However, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's (NERC) latest annual winter reliability assessment, released Tuesday, concludes MISO has enough resources to meet the area's power demand, even when there's extreme demand and generator outages.
Michigan's energy regulator, the Michigan Public Service Commission--after input from the state's Department of the Attorney General--and MISO both approved Consumer Energy's initial plan for shutting down the J.H. Campbell plant.
Michigan, Environmental Groups Push Back on the DOE Orders
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and a coalition of environmental groups are challenging the DOE's orders keeping the plant open.After requesting a rehearing with the DOE to review the initial order and not receiving a response, Nessel and the groups--which include the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council--filed petitions with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit challenging the legality of the orders.
"The closure of this coal-powered electric plant has been planned for years, the utility made all due preparations to maintain our energy load without it, and the closure has been agreed to and cited in settlements affecting customer costs," Nessel said in a press release announcing the court filing.
The "unprecedented" order "declares an emergency without evidence, completely ignores state and federal regulators that approved the plants retirement, and will potentially put enormous costs onto utility customers who receive no real benefit."
The Sierra Club said in October that Consumers Energy's latest quarterly filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stated that keeping the plant open after the initial 90-day order in May cost ratepayers $53 million, even after accounting for energy revenues. The second order, issued in August, had already cost ratepayers $27 million, the group added.
In August, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved MISO's plan for ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states to pay for the plant costs, a proposal environmental groups have since urged the FERC to reject.
In Consumer Energy's third-quarter earnings conference call on October 30, Chief Financial Officer Rejji Hayes discussed the cost recovery. "Once we have started to receive recovery of the investments and of the spend from MISO North and central customers based on the construct we outlined with FERC ... we would refund Michigan customers for their share that they've already contributed."
The latest pushback, also citing adequate resources and the continued costs for ratepayers, came from the Michigan House of Representatives' 52 Democrats--who recently brought forward a resolution urging Wright to stop issuing extensions for the plant.
Another Possible DOE Coal Plant Extension
The Trump administration aims to keep other coal-fired plants operating past their scheduled closing dates. Earlier this month, Wright offered up to $100 million in funding to keep coal plants open. For more information, see November 4, 2025, article - U.S. Offers Funds to Keep Coal Plants Open.According to news reports, the Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association (Westminster, Colorado)--a cooperative of members that provides power to more than 1 million customers in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska--has indicated the government will order it to extend the life of the 446-megawatt, coal-fired Unit 1 at the three-unit Craig Power Station in Colorado. Tri-State operates the Craig station, and co-owns units 1 and 2 with the Salt River Project (Tempe, Arizona), the Platte River Power Authority (Fort Collins, Colorado), PacifiCorp (Portland, Oregon) and Xcel Energy (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Tri-State fully owns Unit 3.
Tri-State spokesperson Mark Stutz has in recent weeks has said he expects the DOE will issue an order by the end of the year. However, "we do have legal requirements to close that unit, but we also are closing it for economic reasons," he told Canary Media, while telling the Colorado Sun that Tri-State is following the court cases challenging the DOE's similar orders.
Unit 1 is scheduled to close at the end of the year, while the other two units are set to close in 2028. Tri-State did not disclose the costs it would incur due to an emergency order.
Subscribers can view the Craig plant profile.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Energy issued its third order keeping the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan open past its previously scheduled closing date.
- The government cites a lack of energy resources in times of high demand.
- The state, grid operator MISO and environmental groups are pushing back on the DOE's orders, citing adequate resources and ongoing costs for ratepayers.
- The Trump administration is looking to keep other coal-fired plants operating past their scheduled closing dates, either through additional orders or providing federal funding.
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
