The Consumers Energy-owned J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive was scheduled for decommissioning in May 2025 but has been forced to continue operations by the U.S. Department of Energy, citing blackout concerns.
Last week, the department issued its sixth order continuing the plant’s operation through mid-November, nearly a year and a half past its approved retirement date.
According to Consumers, retirement of the plant was expected to save Michigan ratepayers nearly $600 million. Since May 2025, the utility reports its spent $295 million maintaining its operation and is recovering the loss from ratepayers across its north and central U.S. regions.
AG Dana Nessel has called the extensions a fabricated crisis, stating, “Hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary costs are stacking up, and Michigan families will be forced to foot the bill to keep online a plant that should have been retired more than a year ago.”
Nessel recently argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals challenging the DOE’s original May 23rd, 2025, order. A ruling is pending.
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