The U.S. Department of Energy Extends Operations of a Coal Plant in the Midwest

Amid tensions on the Midwest power grid, Washington orders the continued operation of the J.H. Campbell plant to secure electricity supply over the coming months.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The United States Department of Energy has issued an emergency order to ensure the stability of the electrical grid in the Midwest region. The announcement, made by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, provides for the temporary continued operation of the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant located in West Olive, Michigan. The facility, operated by Consumers Energy, was originally scheduled to cease operations on May 31, 2025—fifteen years before the end of its planned operational life.

Secretary Wright instructed the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to coordinate with Consumers Energy to ensure the plant remains available for operation. He also required MISO to take all necessary steps to minimize the economic impact on consumers. Maintaining this generation capacity aims to mitigate the heightened risk of power outages in a context of strong demand and intermittent availability of renewable energy sources.

Operational Context and Role of the Campbell Site
Since May 23, 2025—the date of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) initial order—the J.H. Campbell plant has played a critical role in MISO’s operations. It has been called upon repeatedly during periods of high energy demand, particularly when renewable generation was low. The facility, in service for several decades, provides dispatchable generation capacity regarded as strategic for ensuring grid continuity.

According to the DOE’s Grid Reliability Evaluation, continued retirement of dispatchable plants could increase outage risks by a factor of one hundred by 2030. This projection is based on forecasted installed capacity and consumption patterns in areas with constrained flexible generation.

Order Duration and Impact on Grid Operators
The new directive, which took effect on August 21, 2025, will remain in place until November 19, 2025. It is part of an emergency legal framework aimed at responding to exceptional conditions on the U.S. power grid. The text does not introduce long-term regulatory changes but addresses an immediate need for supply security.

This temporary extension raises operational questions for grid operators, who must balance decarbonization targets, reliability requirements, and price stability. It also highlights growing tensions linked to the variability of renewable energy generation amid rising energy consumption.

Chinese buyers begin negotiations for 2026 thermal coal deliveries, favouring shorter contracts to maintain flexibility in a stable price environment.
Queensland coal producers are struggling to rein in costs, which remain above pre-2022 levels as the impact of royalty hikes and margin pressures continues to weigh on the sector.
Coal will temporarily become the main source of electricity in the Midwest markets MISO and SPP during winter, according to the latest federal forecasts.
The Trump administration plans to open millions of federal hectares to coal and ease environmental rules governing this strategic industry.
The integration of private operators into South Africa’s rail network marks a turning point for coal exporters, with a target of 55 million tonnes exported in 2025 from the Richards Bay terminal.
Facing Western restrictions, Russia plans to increase coal deliveries to China, India and Turkey, according to a recent presentation on the sector’s outlook.
The visit of the Pakistani president to Shanghai Electric marks a new strategic phase in China-Pakistan energy cooperation, centred on the Thar mining and power project and local skills development.
Port congestion in Australia has boosted Russian and Indonesian coal exports to South Korea, with both now dominating the market due to lower prices and reliable delivery schedules.
Polish state-owned producer JSW confirms its 13.4 million tonnes production target for 2025 thanks to new equipment coming online, despite recent disruptions at multiple sites.
Russia and Indonesia overtook Australia as South Korea's top thermal coal suppliers in August, driven by lower prices and more reliable logistics amid persistent Australian shipment delays.
Uniper has demolished cooling tower F at its Scholven power plant, marking a new stage in the dismantling of the Gelsenkirchen coal site, where the energy company plans to build a hydrogen-ready gas-fired plant.
Underreported methane emissions from Australian mines could increase steelmakers’ carbon footprint by up to 15%, according to new analysis highlighting major gaps in global supply chains.
The new Russian railway line linking the Elga mine to the Sea of Okhotsk port will reach full capacity in 2026, after an operational testing phase scheduled for 2025.
The Romanian government is asking the European Union for a five-year delay on the closure of 2.6 gigawatts of coal capacity, citing delays in bringing gas and solar alternatives online.
President Gustavo Petro bans all coal exports to Israel, a decision with minor energy effects but strong diplomatic weight, illustrating his anti-Americanism and attempts to reshape Colombia’s domestic politics.
India’s coking coal imports are rising and increasingly split between the United States and Russia, while Australian producers redirect volumes to China; 2025 results confirm a shift in trade flows.
China approved 25 GW in H1 2025 and commissioned 21 GW; the annual total could exceed 80 GW. Proposals reached 75 GW and coal’s share fell to 51% in June, amid declining imports.
Valor Mining Credit Partners completes its first major financing with a secured loan to strengthen the operational capacity of a U.S. mining site.
Peabody Energy abandons the acquisition of Anglo American’s Australian coal assets, triggering an arbitration process following the failure of a post-incident agreement at the Moranbah North mine.
Core Natural Resources announces USD220.2mn in operating cash flow for the second quarter of 2025, while revising its capital return strategy and increasing post-merger synergies.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25€/month*

*billed annually at 99€/year for the first year then 149,00€/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2€/month*
then 14.90€ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.