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

Live updates

1. 18h ago

   Federal Court Blocks Trump Order to Keep Michigan Coal Plant Open

   A federal appeals court struck down a Trump administration emergency order that forced the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan to stay operational. The court ruled the Energy Department exceeded its authority and warned that using federal orders to keep retiring plants open can distort capacity prices and discourage investment in new power generation. This decision removes the legal mandate for the facility to remain in service, marking the first legal loss for the administration's efforts to protect the coal industry.

   Why it matters

   The administration attempted to use emergency declarations to prevent aging coal facilities from closing. This strategy aims to rescue the coal industry but faces challenges from organizations arguing these emergencies are fabricated.

   What is confirmed

   • A federal court ruled the Energy Department exceeded its authority by forcing a Michigan coal plant to remain open.
   • The ruling removes the legal mandate requiring the J.H. Campbell plant to stay in service.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Organizations challenging the order for Craig Unit 1 in Colorado believe the Michigan ruling applies to their case.

   What to watch next

   • Court rulings regarding coal plants in Indiana
   • Legal challenges to the Craig Unit 1 order in Colorado
   Sources used for this update (4)

   1. www.insurancejournal.com — Federal Court Blocks Trump Order Keeping Michigan Coal Plant Open
   2. www.rechargenews.com — Trump coal defeat: Why capacity-market ruling matters for wind investors
   3. www.ipm.org — Michigan wins coal plant case, but Indiana’s plants still remain open under federal order
   4. coloradosun.com — Colorado watching closely after federal court tosses order to keep coal power plant running in Michigan
   confidence 90%
2. 2d ago

   D.C. Circuit Court Overturns Trump Order Keeping Michigan Coal Plant Open

   Federal judges in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals have struck down an emergency order from Donald Trump intended to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-burning plant in Michigan operational. The court ruled that the administration cannot fabricate an emergency to prevent the aging facility from closing. This decision represents the first legal defeat for Trump's broader campaign to rescue the coal industry. The ruling removes the legal mandate that previously forced the plant to remain in service despite its age.

   Why it matters

   The J.H. Campbell plant is an aging coal-fired facility in Michigan. This legal battle centers on the limits of executive power to declare emergencies for industrial preservation. The outcome affects the administration's strategy for reversing coal plant closures nationwide.

   What is confirmed

   • Federal judges struck down an order to keep the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan open.
   • The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the order.
   • The order was characterized as an emergency measure.

   What to watch next

   • Potential appeals by the Trump administration to a higher court
   • The official closure date for the J.H. Campbell plant
   Sources used for this update (8)

   1. Politico — Court deals first blow to Trump’s coal rescue campaign
   2. The New York Times — Court Strikes Down Trump Order to Keep an Aging Coal-Burning Plant Running
   3. The Detroit News — Federal judges strike down order keeping Michigan coal plant open
   4. WWMT — D.C. Circuit Appeals Court overturns order keeping Michigan’s J.H. Campbell Plant running
   5. The Daily Beast — Court Deals Trump Humiliating Blow Over ‘Emergency’
   6. Al Jazeera — US court rejects Trump’s emergency order keeping Michigan coal plant open
   7. Gizmodo — Judges Rule Trump Can’t Just Make Up An Emergency to Keep Coal Plant Open
   8. www.upi.com — Drenching, gusty thunderstorms to wander across nation
   confidence 100%