“Consumers has been working toward the closing of this plant for over four years, and they were only given eight days’ notice they weren’t permitted to close this plant that isn’t efficient for them anymore.”
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel calls the emergency order “an incredible overreach” for the federal government.
Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell coal-fired plant in West Olive was slated to close May 31, the power replaced by a new natural gas plant.
A week before closure, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order requiring Consumers keep the plant operational, citing concerns Midwest summer heat could create high demand for electricity, causing power outages, a concern Consumers and state officials refute.
“It’s going to be incredibly expensive to operate this plant. In fact, Consumers Energy cited about $600 million in savings for its customers over 20 years with the retirement of this plant. So, now who’s going to make up for that? Well, we know who it’s going to be - the ratepayers.”
Nessel says her office is reviewing necessary measures for mounting a challenge to the directive.
“We are looking at a request for a hearing with the Department of Energy to fight the emergency order and we have only a limited amount of time to make that decision.”
Nessel says Consumers Energy may also make a request to the Federal Regulatory Commission to recoup costs for continuing plant operations.
