US court blocks Trump administration bid to keep Michigan coal plant open
CMS•Court throws out emergency order for J.H. Campbell plant
A federal appeals court on Friday threw out an order from President Donald Trump's administration that had forced a Michigan coal plant to remain open beyond its planned retirement.
The unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found the Department of Energy exceeded its authority under a rarely used emergency provision of federal law, according to court papers.
Michigan challenged the order after DOE instructed the 1960s-era J.H. Campbell plant in 2025 to remain online shortly before its planned closure.
The ruling is a setback for the administration's efforts to preserve coal-fired generation at a time when U.S. demand for electricity has soared due largely to the expansion of data centers. Coal-fired power is among the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.
