Trump administration orders 5th extension forcing Campbell Coal Plant to stay open

Order will push plant one year past its original closure date as ratepayer costs hit $180 million 

LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s decision to once again force the outdated, polluting J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Michigan to remain open – a move that has cost working families in Michigan and throughout the Midwest $180 million as of the end of March, the most recent month for which data is available. 

“President Trump promised to lower energy costs in half during his first year in office. Instead, he’s forcing outdated and expensive coal plants like Campbell to stay open and energy costs are skyrocketing,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for Michigan LCV. “Keeping the Campbell coal plant open has cost $180 million since the end of March, and ratepayers will be on the hook to pay these increased costs on their energy bills. Our bills are too damn high, and we need more leaders, like Attorney General Nessel, to step up and fight back against excessive federal overreach that’s driving up our energy costs.”

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 last May, which was projected to save ratepayers $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, pushing Campbell’s operations a year past its original closure date. 

Consumers Energy has stated the cost of keeping the plant open is $615,000 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.