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US court rejects Trump’s emergency order keeping Michigan coal plant open
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal appeals court ruled that the US Energy Department exceeded its authority by ordering Michigan’s JH Campbell coal plant to remain open beyond its planned retirement, rejecting the Trump administration’s emergency justification.
- The court found no immediate emergency under federal law to justify reversing the plant’s scheduled closure, describing the decision as disruptive to a long-planned retirement.
- The plant, operated by Consumers Energy, was set to close in May 2025 but continued operations under the department’s orders, costing approximately $259 million and raising concerns about financial burdens on regional consumers.
- Michigan’s Attorney General and other states challenged the orders, while the Energy Department defended its actions, citing prevention of blackouts and increased coal generation during severe winter storms.
- Following the ruling, the Energy Department issued similar emergency orders for other coal plants in Washington, Indiana, Colorado, Florida, and an oil and gas plant in Pennsylvania, indicating ongoing legal disputes nationwide.
