A federal appeals court has ruled that the U.S. Energy Department exceeded its authority by ordering the JH Campbell Generating Plant in Michigan to operate beyond its scheduled retirement. This decision challenges the Trump administration’s efforts to keep aging coal facilities in operation. The court found no immediate emergency that justified this extension, which Energy Secretary Chris Wright had claimed was necessary for regional electricity reliability.
Judge Cornelia Pillard emphasized that the emergency provisions of the Federal Power Act were intended as a last resort, reserved for situations where immediate federal action was required. The JH Campbell plant, scheduled to close in May 2025, had incurred approximately $259 million in costs during its extended operation, with concerns that these costs could impact midwestern families and businesses.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, part of the legal challenge against the Energy Department, welcomed the ruling, asserting it highlighted the lack of a factual basis for the order. Meanwhile, the Energy Department defended its actions, claiming that these orders helped prevent blackouts during peak demand periods, particularly during severe winter storms.
Following this ruling, Secretary Wright issued another emergency order for a coal plant in Centralia, Washington, continuing a pattern of similar orders across various states, including Indiana, Colorado, and Florida.
