US court rejects Trump’s emergency order keeping Michigan coal plant open

The ruling says the Energy Department exceeded its authority by extending the plant’s operation.A federal appeals court has ruled that the United States Energy Department exceeded its authority when it ordered a coal-fired power plant in the US state of Michigan to remain open beyond its planned retirement, dealing a setback to the Trump administration’s effort to keep ageing coal facilities operating.The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled unanimously on Friday that there was no emergency under federal law that justified keeping the 64-year-old JH Campbell Generating Plant online. Energy Secretary Chris Wright invoked emergency powers last year, arguing that the plant was needed to maintain reliable electricity in the region.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Long before Trump: How US policy has harmed the environment for decadeslist 2 of 3Trump admin’s cancellation of wind energy projects causes business turmoillist 3 of 3Powerful El Nino to intensify heat on ‘a planet already on fire’: UNend of listPresident Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency in an executive order in January last year, citing demand increases from Artificial Intelligence and data centre growth.Judge Cornelia Pillard, writing for the three-judge panel, said the emergency provision of the Federal Power Act was intended as a “narrow, last-resort backstop.” She said the authority could be used only when immediate action was required, and states or utilities could not address the problem themselves.Pillard also described the reversal of the plant’s “long and carefully planned retirement” as “disruptive”.The plant, operated by Consumers Energy, had been scheduled to close in May 2025, but the company has continued operations under Energy Department orders. That has cost about $259m, according to financial filings, with opponents warning that the expense could ultimately fall on families and businesses in midwestern US states.