What was the federal appeals court's main legal finding regarding the Trump administration's emergency order to keep the J.H. Campbell coal plant running?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the Department of Energy exceeded its authority under the Federal Power Act by invoking emergency powers to keep Consumers Energy Co.’s J.H. Campbell plant operating past its planned May 2025 retirement, finding that the department had stretched a narrowly written statutory provision beyond what Congress intended and that the situation did not qualify as an emergency.

Why did the Trump administration issue successive emergency orders for the J.H. Campbell plant, and what justification did it provide?

The Trump administration issued successive 90-day emergency orders—including one on August 14—to keep the 1,420-megawatt J.H. Campbell plant online, citing grid reliability concerns in the Midwest, projections of tight reserve margins, and growing electricity demand; Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated the plant was needed to address those concerns, and the Department claimed the orders 'prevented blackouts and likely saved hundreds of lives during peak capacity events this past year,' including during Winter Storm Fern.

Court Overturns Trump Order to Keep Michigan Coal Plant Running

Sep 11, 2026

A US appeals court rejected the Trump administration's order to keep Michigan's J.H. Campbell coal plant running past its 2025 retirement, ruling the Energy Department exceeded its authority. This impacts broader efforts to extend the life of aging fossil-fuel units nationwide.

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