Consumers has the final say about retiring Campbell, but Ottawa County is worried

OTTAWA COUNTY — In general, members of the GOP don't believe in telling businesses how to operate. But a steadfast group of officials and residents in Ottawa County aren't afraid to be vocally unhappy about it.
'An overwhelming majority of Ottawa County does not want the Campbell Plant to be closed in 2025,' said Jenison resident Joseph McCarter during a meeting of Ottawa County Planning and Policy Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Though he didn't cite statistics, McCarter doesn't speak alone. An effort to "Save the Campbell" in Ottawa County, started by McCarter, has been underway since Consumers Energy announced the facility in Port Sheldon Township was slated for an early 2025 retirement in 2021. Initially, at least one portion of the plant was meant to stay online until 2040.
More: What's the future for Campbell Power Plant? Consumers announces 20-year partnership
More: 'Save the Campbell' is about far more than utilities — here's why
McCarter is also joined by local officials in his concerns.
'It's voluntary for the Campbell Plant to be closing (this) early,' said Commissioner Allison Miedema. 'That was a voluntary decision. This wasn't a mandate that was put on them.'
The decision was instead spurred by Consumers Energy's Clean Energy Plan, which calls for eliminating coal as an energy source in 2025. The plan was released in the wake of state law requiring Michigan to produce 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2040.
The J.H. Campbell Plant began operations in 1962, generating nearly 1,500 megawatts of electricity on a 2,000-acre property. The plant closure will mark the end of Consumers' electricity generation from coal.
Retirement and restoration of the property is expected to begin later this year, and last until 2030. Work includes the removal of coal residuals, backfilling the cold pile with clean fill, ash remediation with Ashcor, removal of warm water discharge pipe and relocation of multiple bird boxes.
The west side of the property will be available for reconstruction sooner than the east side, thanks to ash remediation. It also includes a public access point open April 15-Oct. 15, which will continue to be maintained by Consumers until 2069.
Port Sheldon is already grappling with how the loss of such a large taxpayer will impact the municipality. In partnership with McKenna, local officials have engaged with residents on future plans for the site, with a "final" vision expected soon.
Under the original plan from Consumers, only two of three units at the Campbell Plant would shutter in 2025. The third was meant to remain operational until 2040. According to Dena Isabel, a representative who spoke Tuesday, that plan just wasn't economical.
'It doesn't make sense to run Unit Three without One and Two,' she said. 'We decided we were going to retire all three units.'
Miedema estimated 90% of residents in Ottawa County would be supportive of a delay in closing the plant, though she, too, didn't cite statistics. She said State Sen. Roger Victory supports keeping Unit Three running until 2045.
Isabel clarified that customers won't see a change in service after the facility's retirement. That's because, she said, renewable energy sources will be added to the grid, which are cheaper to run. In the end, keeping the plant open would increase rates, she said, because customers are paying for excess generation they don't use.
'So, it's cheaper to eliminate this plant and build 8,000 megawatts of solar (energy) than to keep an existing, already built plant?' Commissioner Jordan Jorritsma asked.
Jorritsma is worried about where, exactly, solar panels might be placed. Under new state law, Michigan has the power to override local authorities in placing a renewable energy source on suitable land, under certain conditions. The existing 2,000 acres on which the Campbell Plant sits aren't suitable for solar energy, according to Isabel.
'We look for flat, open spaces,' Isabel said.
'Farmland,' Jorritsma countered.
Commissioners are worried about energy demand and grid stability without the Campbell Plant, which operates on the Midcontinent Independent System Operator. MISO is responsible for power across 15 states and one Canadian Province. In 2024, 26% of the authority's energy came from coal.
According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, MISO is listed as "high risk," meaning shortfalls to the energy supply can occur at normal peak conditions. That's the worst ranking on NERC's Risk Area Summary for 2025-2029 — and MISO is the only grid that's earned it.
'The only way the lights can come on is if there's enough power into the grid serving our area collectively,' said Commissioner Josh Brugger. '... I don't like coal. I think there ... are other options, green energy, natural gas — but at the same time, we've got business, we've got industry, we've got residents all throughout the grid that need that power.'
'I understand you guys are a business. It's a for-profit thing. I'm not big on the government telling you what you can and can't do with your business. I would just ask on behalf of everybody on the MISO grid to stay online longer.'
Committee Chair Phil Kuyers moved to continue discussions during the next full board meeting Tuesday, Feb. 25.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Pleas to 'Save the Campbell' continue from Ottawa County Board

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