DOE emergency order keeps 1,420-MW Michigan coal plant online through Nov. 14
Midwest Independent System Operator and Consumers Energy must keep the J.H. Campbell plant operating from Aug. 17 to Nov. 14, 2026
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. The order is effective beginning on August 17, 2026 and runs through November 14, 2026.
The Campbell Plant was originally scheduled to shut down on May 31, 2025, fifteen years before the end of its scheduled design life. DOE's original order was issued on May 23, 2205, and subsequent orders were issued throughout 2025 and 2026. The current directive requires the plant's availability and the use of economic dispatch to minimize costs for American families and businesses.
In January 2026, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation released its 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment, stating that the MISO region is at high risk of energy shortfalls over the next five years because "projected resource additions do not keep pace with escalating demand forecasts and announced generator retirements." The 2026 State of Reliability, released June 4, 2026, added that "shoulder reasons have become increasingly challenging for bulk power system operators to manage, resulting in several recent instances of pre-contingent load shedding."
DOE's Resource Adequacy Report noted that, prior to President Trump's election, the United States was on track to potentially experience 100 times more blackouts in 2030 due to premature shutdowns of reliable generation and rising electricity demand. The report also credited President Trump's leadership with reversing premature coal-plant retirements, noting that in 2025 more than 17 gigawatts of coal-powered electricity generation were saved from going offline.
"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," Secretary Wright said. "Ensuring coal plants such as the Campbell Plant are available to operate during periods of high electricity demand saves lives. Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining."