U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has renewed an emergency order to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan operational. The directive instructs the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), working with Consumers Energy, to ensure that the Campbell Plant remains available for operation and uses economic dispatch to reduce costs for consumers. The plant was initially set to close on May 31, 2025, which is 15 years before its planned design life ends.
“The energy sources that perform when you need them most are inherently the most valuable—that’s why beautiful, clean coal was the MVP of recent winter storms,” said Secretary Wright. “Hundreds of American lives have likely been saved because of President Trump’s actions saving America’s coal plants, including this Michigan coal plant which ran daily during Winter Storm Fern. This emergency order will mitigate the risk of blackouts and maintain affordable, reliable, and secure electricity access across the region.”
The Department of Energy reported that the Campbell Plant played a significant role in grid stability during recent winter storms by operating at more than 650 megawatts each day before and during Winter Storm Fern from January 21 to February 1. Officials argue that closing it would add unnecessary stress to grid reliability. Nationally, more than 17 gigawatts of coal-generated electricity were preserved ahead of Winter Storm Fern due to federal leadership.
Since DOE’s initial order on May 23, the Campbell Plant has been critical for MISO operations during high demand periods and times when intermittent energy production was low. Additional orders followed on August 20 and November 18, 2025.
DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report warns that if dependable power sources are removed from service, outages could increase one hundredfold by 2030. The emergency conditions identified earlier continue to exist.
Recent studies such as NERC’s Winter Reliability Assessments for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 have labeled MISO’s area as having elevated risk with potential shortages in operating reserves under extreme conditions. NERC’s Long-Term Reliability Assessment also highlights risks linked to increased reliance on weather-dependent resources and less fuel diversity during winter months.
This new order is effective from February 17 through May 18, 2026.
Background information shows that MISO’s Planning Resource Auction Results for the upcoming year indicate insufficient new capacity additions in northern and central zones—including Michigan—to counteract retirements or suspensions of existing resources.
In a move reflecting these concerns about year-round reliability issues—not just summer—MISO requested approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late 2021 to revise its resource adequacy requirements so they apply throughout all seasons rather than only based on peak summer demand; FERC approved this request in August 2022.
MISO stated: “Reliability risks associated with Resource Adequacy have shifted from ‘Summer only’ to a year-round concern.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has launched several initiatives aimed at strengthening energy resilience nationwide:
– In July 2022, DOE announced a $225 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states implement updated building energy codes designed for greater efficiency and resilience (https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-launches-225-million-program-lower-utility-bills-through-more).
– Also in July 2022, DOE announced $96 million in funding opportunities intended to decarbonize transportation through expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure and cleaner engine technologies (https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-96-million-advancing-clean-vehicle-technologies-reduce-carbon-emissions).
– On July 25, DOE announced support for over one hundred programs tied to President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative; these aim to direct a significant share of federal clean energy investments toward disadvantaged communities (https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-more-140-programs-supporting-president-bidens-justice40-initiative).
– The Office of Environmental Management is applying innovative passive energy processes at sites like Savannah River Site for environmental remediation efforts using materials such as crushed marble (https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/srs-tackles-groundwater-issue-using-innovative-passive-energy-process).
These programs underscore ongoing efforts by DOE not only to address immediate grid reliability concerns but also support long-term resilience and equitable access across U.S. communities.
