Trump Administration Forges Ahead with Illegal Coal Plant Operation, Flouting Environmental and Economic Consequences

Strategic Insights -

The Trump Administration continues to defy environmental concerns and economic realities by forcing the aging, dirty coal power plant J.H. Campbell to operate for an additional 90 days, despite its unneeded and excessive costs. Public interest groups, including the Environmental Defense Fund, Earthjustice, and Sierra Club, have challenged the Department of Energy's (DOE) second illegal emergency order, citing the plant's inefficient operation and the lack of any genuine emergency or electricity shortage in the region. The continued operation of J.H. Campbell will cost ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states nearly $6 million every week, with a conservative cost estimate of nearly $140 million per year, potentially doubling that amount.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump Administration has issued a second illegal emergency order forcing the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant to operate for an additional 90 days, disregarding environmental concerns and economic realities.
  • The initial DOE 90-day order cost $29 million in just the first five weeks -- almost $1 million per day, with costs to comply with the order set to be paid by ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states.
  • A conservative cost estimate of continuing the operation of J.H. Campbell is nearly $140 million per year, with the actual annual cost potentially doubling that estimate.
  • The plant was not needed to keep the lights on during the hot summer months and will not be needed to keep the lights on during the fall.
  • The real energy emergency in the Midwestern communities is an affordability crisis due to skyrocketing electricity bills, which is only deepening as the Trump Administration forces communities to foot the bill for its pro-fossil fuel agenda.
  • The continued operation of J.H. Campbell will drive up electricity bills and pollution for families and businesses, making it an unjust burden for ratepayers in Michigan.

Statistics:

  • The initial DOE 90-day order cost: $29 million in just the first five weeks -- almost $1 million per day.
  • Costs to comply with the order: to be paid by ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states.
  • Conservative cost estimate of continuing the operation of J.H. Campbell: nearly $140 million per year.
  • Actual annual cost to continue the operation of J.H. Campbell: potentially double the conservative cost estimate.

Sources:

  • Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org)
  • Environmental Justice (earthjustice.org)
  • Sierra Club (sierraclub.org)
  • Grid Strategies (gridstrategies.com)
  • Natural Resources Defense Council (nrdc.org)