Federal Court Rejects Trump's Order Keeping Coal Plant Open.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down a federal order forcing the J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive, Michigan, to stay open. The unanimous three-judge panel ruled Friday that the Energy Department had no legal emergency to justify the directive.
- 64-year-old Campbell plant was scheduled to close; its owner had replacement plans approved.
- $135 million: the cost of keeping the plant running in 2025 alone.
- 3 states — Michigan, Illinois, and Minnesota — joined environmental groups in the lawsuit.
- Similar emergency orders cover plants in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Washington, Colorado, and Florida.
Why it matters: The ruling narrows how the Energy Department can use emergency powers under the Federal Power Act. The court said such authority is "essentially a narrow, last-resort backstop," not a tool for reversing planned plant retirements.
- A broad reading of "emergency" would invite "frequent federal interventions" that could destabilize the energy market and discourage new energy development, the court wrote.
How 7 sources split on this story
Where they split: Coverage does not split on facts; all outlets report the ruling the same way, though left-leaning outlets give more space to environmental groups' characterizations of the administration's broader coal policy.
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center focuses on the legal mechanics and the ruling's potential ripple effects on the administration's broader emergency-authority strategy.
Left coverage, 4 sources: The left frames the ruling as a rebuke of a politically motivated effort to prop up costly, polluting plants at ratepayers' expense.
The Independent2hFederal court rejects Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant openTBGThe Boston Globe2hCourt rejects Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant open
AlterNet2hTrump loses bid to keep old coal plant open
The New York Times1hCourt Strikes Down Trump Order to Keep an Aging Coal-Burning Plant Running
What’s next: The Energy Department reissues these emergency orders every 90 days at other plants; those orders remain in effect for now.
- Earthjustice attorney Michael Lenoff said the group will challenge future orders at other plants.
- Will the Trump administration appeal the ruling or seek a stay while it pursues other legal options?
- How quickly must the Campbell plant now shut down, and who bears the transition costs?