Trump order to keep Michigan power plant open costs taxpayers $113m

"The Trump administration in May ordered utility giant Consumers Energy to keep the 63-year-old JH Campbell coal plant in western Michigan, about 100 miles north-east of Chicago, online just as it was being retired. The order has drawn outrage from consumer advocates and environmental groups who say the plant is expensive and emits high levels of toxic air pollution and greenhouse gas."

"The costs of unnecessarily running this jalopy coal plant just continue to mount, said Michael Lenoff, an attorney with Earthjustice, which is suing over the order. Gary Rochow, Consumers Energy's CEO, told investors in a 30 October earnings call that the Trump administration in its order stated that ratepayers should shoulder the costs, and detailed how the company should pass on the costs. That order from the energy department has laid out a clear path to cost recovery, Rochow said."

A federal energy department order has kept the 63-year-old JH Campbell coal plant in western Michigan online, producing costs estimated at about $113 million so far. The order extended operation by another 90 days and directs Consumers Energy to recover costs from ratepayers. Costs will be allocated across the northern and central MISO grid spanning multiple states and have been estimated at roughly $615,000 per day. Environmental groups and consumer advocates have criticized the order for high emissions and expense, and Earthjustice and Michigan's attorney general have initiated legal challenges alleging the order is arbitrary and illegal.

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