Trump administration keeps Campbell coal plant running as cost exceeds $259 million

While Trump’s family makes billions, Michiganders face hundreds of millions in costs tied to the continued operation of the Campbell coal plant

LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today condemned the Trump administration’s decision to once again continue to force the outdated, polluting J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Michigan to remain open – a move that has cost $259 million as of the end of June according to Consumers Energy, the plant’s owner. 

“At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing, Donald Trump is forcing Michiganders to pay more to keep the outdated Campbell coal plant running, a move that has cost ratepayers $259 million to date,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for Michigan LCV. “Consumers Energy has confirmed it is costing more than $640,000 every single day to keep Campbell open, and those costs are being passed on to Michigan customers. Michiganders need relief, not expensive executive overreach to prop up outdated fossil fuel plants.” 

The latest order to keep Campbell open will eat away at more than half of the $600 million the plant’s closure was to save Michiganders by 2040.

Background information:

After years of careful planning, the Campbell plant, which is one of the worst greenhouse gas emitters in the state and is owned and operated by Consumers Energy, was scheduled to close in May of 2025. Its closure was projected to save its customers $600 million by 2040. 

Under the guise of a fake “energy emergency,” the Trump administration ordered it and numerous other coal plants across the nation to remain open for 90 days. This is the fifth time that the order has been extended since it was originally forced to remain open, pushing Campbell’s operations a year past its original closure date.

Consumers Energy has stated the cost of keeping the plant open is $640,000-plus a day and has made clear it intends to pass those costs to customers in Michigan and 10 other states. 

Michiganders already pay the highest energy costs in the Midwest for some of the least reliable electrical and gas service delivery in the country.

Prior to the Trump administration’s order, Consumers Energy had received regulatory approval to close Campbell and replace the plant’s output with clean, renewable sources and a new gas power plant. 

In April 2025, ahead of the first Trump administration extension, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which oversees the energy grid Campbell provides power to, came out with a report showing the grid has more than enough energy to account for Campbell’s retirement. 

Coal plants are among the dirtiest and most dangerous polluters. They pose grave risks to both human health and the environment, and are more expensive to build, maintain and operate than clean energy sources such as wind and solar. 

A link to the official Department of Energy order can be found here.