The J.H. Campbell coal-powered plant in Ottawa County’s Port Sheldon Township was scheduled for decommissioning in May 2025, but after five federally mandated extensions, the electricity producing plant remains active. According to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the extensions “mitigate the risk of blackouts and maintain affordable, reliable, and secure electricity access the region.” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has called the extensions a “fabricated crisis” that continues costing ratepayers millions of dollars.
This continued operation has led to the creation of wastewater. According to Consumers Energy, the utility company is pursuing deep well injection, where nonhazardous wastewater is pumped into deep, porous rock formations underground. Currently, the wastewater is mixed with cooling water from the plant’s generating units for discharge into Lake Michigan.
Consumers Energy will hold a public informational meeting on the wastewater disposal on Wednesday, July 15th at 5:30 p.m. at the Port Sheldon Township Hall in West Olive.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a separate public hearing on Thursday, July 23rd at 6 p.m. at the Midtown Center in Holland.
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