Federal court knocks down Trump’s order extending Michigan coal plant’s operations past retirement

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A federal court on Friday blocked the Trump administration from keeping a decades-old Michigan coal plant open based on an “emergency” order. 

The 64-year-old coal plant was set to close as part of a transition to cleaner energy in May 2025, triggering an intervention by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who argued it was needed to ensure reliable electricity in the region and prevent blackouts. Wright used emergency powers to keep the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant open through August 2026, along with a handful of other coal plants set to be retired.

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