Federal Court Voids DOE Emergency Order to Keep Michigan Coal Plant Online
A D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled that the Department of Energy (DOE) cannot invoke emergency powers under the Federal Power Act to keep Michigan’s J.H. Campbell coal plant operating. The court found no evidence of an actual electricity shortage, rejecting the administration’s claim that the plant was necessary to prevent blackouts. The decision invalidates six 90-day emergency orders issued in 2025 and allows Michigan to proceed with its planned decommissioning of the 64-year-old facility.