US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order requiring a 1,420-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Michigan to remain available for operation amid concerns over electricity grid reliability in the Midwest, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Friday.
The order directs Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), in coordination with Consumers Energy, to ensure the J.H. Campbell power plant in West Olive, Michigan, remains available to operate and to use economic dispatch to minimize costs for consumers and businesses.
The plant had originally been scheduled to shut down on May 31, 2025, about 15 years before the end of its planned operating life.
The Energy Department first issued an emergency order concerning the Campbell plant on May 23, 2025, citing grid reliability concerns ahead of summer months. According to the department, the plant has since operated during periods of high electricity demand and low intermittent power generation.
Subsequent orders were issued throughout 2025 and 2026. The latest order will remain in effect from Aug. 17 through Nov. 14, 2026.
"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," 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," he added.
- Planned coal plant shutdowns reversed under Trump
According to the Energy Department, coal plants across the US have had their planned early shutdowns reversed since Trump took office.
DOE said more than 17 gigawatts of coal-fired generation capacity that had been scheduled to go offline remained operational in 2025.
The Department also cited its Resource Adequacy Report, saying that prior to Trump's election, the US was on track to potentially experience 100 times more blackouts by 2030 due to premature retirement of reliable power generation sources and rising electricity demand.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), in its 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment released in January, assessed the MISO region as facing a high risk of energy shortfalls over the next five years.
NERC said projected resource additions are failing to keep pace with rising electricity demand and announced generator retirements, creating significant reliability challenges for the region.
In its 2026 State of Reliability report released in June, NERC also highlighted growing challenges for bulk power system operators during "shoulder seasons," periods between peak summer and winter demand, citing several recent instances of pre-contingent load shedding.
By Duygu Alhan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr