DOE Emergency Order Extends Operation of Michigan Coal Plant

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order directing the Midwest Independent System Operator, in coordination with Consumers Energy, to ensure that the 1,420-megawatt J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan remains available to operate and to employ economic dispatch to minimize costs. The order is effective beginning on August 17, 2026, through November 14, 2026.

The Campbell Plant was originally scheduled to shut down on May 31, 2025, fifteen years before the end of its design life. DOE's original order, issued on May 23, 2205, identified the plant as critical to MISO's operations, and subsequent orders were issued throughout 2025 and 2026.

In January 2026, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation's 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment identified the MISO region as at high risk of energy shortfalls over the next five years, citing projected resource additions that do not keep pace with escalating demand and announced generator retirements. The 2026 State of Reliability released on June 4, 2026 noted that "shoulder reasons have become increasingly challenging for bulk power system operators to manage, resulting in several recent instances of pre-contingent load shedding."

Secretary Wright said, "President Trump and the Energy Department remain committed to doing everything in our power to mitigate the possibility of power outages for American families and businesses...Ensuring coal plants such as the Campbell Plant are available to operate during periods of high electricity demand saves lives."

DOE's Resource Adequacy Report warned that, prior to President Trump's election, the United States was on track to experience 100 times more blackouts in 2030 due to premature shutdowns of reliable generation. In 2025, more than 17 gigawatts of coal-powered electricity generation were saved from going offline, reflecting the administration's effort to preserve reliable, affordable electricity.