DOE extends emergency standby for Michigan coal plant through Feb. 12

The U.S. Department of Energy ordered the 1,420-megawatt J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive, Michigan, to remain available for emergency operation from Nov. 15, 2026, through Feb. 12, 2027. The Nov. 13 order directs the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Consumers Energy to take the steps needed to keep the plant available.

DOE invoked section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act and determined that a statutory emergency exists. The agency cited electricity supply and demand concerns and said continued availability serves the public interest. That is DOE’s finding; the order does not establish that outages would otherwise occur.

The new period begins the day after the preceding order was due to expire, Nov. 14. It is the seventh listed Campbell order in the series. Each of the six earlier orders covered 90 days, and the new period is also 90 days when counted inclusively. DOE’s order says the plant had been scheduled to retire on May 31, 2025.

Emergency availability, not continuous operation i

Does the order require Campbell to generate power continuously through the winter? No. MISO must dispatch the plant only during hours necessary to meet the declared emergency and must minimize costs to ratepayers. The order also says Campbell is not to be considered a capacity resource. Its requirement is to keep the plant available for emergency use, not to run it throughout the 90-day period.

Environmental requirements remain in effect to the maximum extent feasible while consistent with emergency operations. The order does not waive emissions fees or obligations to purchase offsets or allowances.

Reporting, costs and the court’s earlier ruling i

MISO must report to DOE each day on whether Campbell operated in compliance with the order. By Nov. 28, it must provide information about measures taken or planned to ensure the plant’s availability. DOE may also request information about environmental impacts and compliance.

Consumers Energy must file tariff revisions with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or seek waivers, as needed to carry out the order. The order says rate recovery is available, but does not state the cost of this period or approve a specific customer charge.

The D.C. Circuit’s Sept. 11 opinion in a case brought by Michigan interpreted DOE’s authority under section 202(c) and vacated an earlier Campbell order. It did not decide the status of the later Order No. 202-26-51. DOE says it sought rehearing en banc and says the new order is consistent with the court’s opinion.

Michigan Public reported that Attorney General Dana Nessel criticized continued emergency orders, including over ratepayer costs. That reported criticism concerns the broader series of orders; it does not establish the cost of this new period or that a specific amount will be recovered from customers.