Court strikes down Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant open

On Sept. 11, a federal appeals court struck down a Trump order that had required the J.H. Campbell coal‑fired plant in West Olive to remain operational. The ruling, a 40‑page decision from the U.S. District Court of Columbia, found that the federal energy department had overstepped its authority in demanding the plant stay open.

Consumers Energy had planned to retire the 64‑year‑old facility on May 31, 2025, but the Trump administration intervened with an emergency order under the Federal Powers Act. The court said the DOE’s rationale of an energy “emergency” was unsupported by concrete evidence, and that the order had not warranted a response from the federal government.

The decision is a win for Michigan residents, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters said, noting that keeping the plant open costs customers $259 million, while the original plan would have saved $600 million by 2040. The ruling also affirmed that the closure would have been a significant cost saving for the state.

Read the full story at fox2detroit.com.