Latest news with #coalplant
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan, environmental groups challenge federal order to keep power plant open
Environmental groups and Michigan's attorney general filed separate challenges Wednesday against a federal order that is keeping a coal-fired power plant open this summer. The environmental coalition said there is no energy emergency that would justify keeping Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell plant alive in Ottawa County, near Lake Michigan. The U.S. Energy Department "has no authority to compel Consumers to rehabilitate — and effectively reconstruct — the increasingly unreliable plant, nor to override the state's and utility's decision to replace the plant with less expensive and cleaner sources," the 54-page petition says. Consumers Energy had planned to close the power station by May 31 as part of a transition to cleaner energy. But the Energy Department intervened just days earlier, saying the plant must remain open, at least until late August, because of possible electricity shortfalls in the central U.S. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, manages the flow of electricity in 15 U.S. states and Manitoba in Canada. MISO has said there should be enough electricity this summer, though it cited the potential for "elevated risk" during extreme weather. "This type of order is fairly unprecedented," lawyer Shannon Fisk of Earthjustice said. "It's a fabricated emergency." The Energy Department defended its position. "This administration is committed to ensuring Americans have access to reliable, affordable and secure energy that isn't dependent on whether the sun shines or the wind blows," spokesperson Ben Dietderich said. Consumers Energy said it is complying with the order, noting that the first coal delivery arrived before the planned May 31 decommissioning. It is unclear whether the challenges by Attorney General Dana Nessel and environmental groups would be settled by the end of August when the order expires. Fisk said the order could be extended. A lawsuit also could be pursued. In Pennsylvania, an oil and gas plant was also ordered to keep its turbines running as a hedge against electricity shortages in the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid. The Eddystone Generating Station is just south of Philadelphia on the Delaware River.
E&E News
a day ago
- Politics
- E&E News
Greens push back on Trump effort to keep coal plant running
Environmentalists are pushing back against the Trump administration's move last month to force a coal plant to keep operating past its planned retirement. On Wednesday, Earthjustice and other environmental groups challenged the Energy Department to reconsider its decision in May to force the J.H. Campbell coal plant, an aging, 1,560-megawatt coal plant on the shores of Lake Michigan, to keep running through the summer. The groups say the DOE move will raise costs for consumers. Advertisement 'The order is unlawful, unreasonable and unnecessary,' Shannon Fisk, an attorney with Earthjustice, told POLITICO's E&E News. 'The administration is concocting an emergency to try to step in and disrupt a planned retirement that has been agreed to by all the major players in Michigan.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Michigan, environmental groups challenge federal order to keep power plant open
Environmental groups and Michigan's attorney general filed separate challenges Wednesday against a federal order that is keeping a coal-fired power plant open this summer. The environmental coalition said there's no energy emergency that would justify keeping Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell plant alive in Ottawa County, near Lake Michigan. The U.S. Energy Department 'has no authority to compel Consumers to rehabilitate — and effectively reconstruct — the increasingly unreliable plant, nor to override the state's and utility's decision to replace the plant with less expensive and cleaner sources,' the 54-page petition says. Consumers Energy had planned to close the power station by May 31 as part of a transition to cleaner energy. But the Energy Department intervened just days earlier, saying the plant must remain open, at least until late August, because of possible electricity shortfalls in the central U.S. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, manages the flow of electricity in 15 U.S. states and Manitoba in Canada. MISO has said there should be enough electricity this summer though it cited the potential for 'elevated risk' during extreme weather. 'This type of order is fairly unprecedented,' said lawyer Shannon Fisk of Earthjustice. 'It's a fabricated emergency.' There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from the Energy Department. Consumers Energy said it is complying with the federal order. 'The first coal delivery arrived at the plant before the original May 31 decommissioning date,' spokesperson Brian Wheeler said. It's unclear whether the challenges by Attorney General Dana Nessel and environmental groups would be settled by the end of August when the order expires. Fisk said the order could be extended. A lawsuit also could be pursued. In Pennsylvania, an oil-and-gas plant was also ordered to keep its turbines running as a hedge against electricity shortages in the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid. The Eddystone plant is just south of Philadelphia on the Delaware River.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan, environmental groups challenge federal order to keep power plant open
DETROIT (AP) — Environmental groups and Michigan's attorney general filed separate challenges Wednesday against a federal order that is keeping a coal-fired power plant open this summer. The environmental coalition said there's no energy emergency that would justify keeping Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell plant alive in Ottawa County, near Lake Michigan. The U.S. Energy Department 'has no authority to compel Consumers to rehabilitate — and effectively reconstruct — the increasingly unreliable plant, nor to override the state's and utility's decision to replace the plant with less expensive and cleaner sources,' the 54-page petition says. Consumers Energy had planned to close the power station by May 31 as part of a transition to cleaner energy. But the Energy Department intervened just days earlier, saying the plant must remain open, at least until late August, because of possible electricity shortfalls in the central U.S. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, manages the flow of electricity in 15 U.S. states and Manitoba in Canada. MISO has said there should be enough electricity this summer though it cited the potential for 'elevated risk' during extreme weather. 'This type of order is fairly unprecedented,' said lawyer Shannon Fisk of Earthjustice. 'It's a fabricated emergency.' There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from the Energy Department. Consumers Energy said it is complying with the federal order. 'The first coal delivery arrived at the plant before the original May 31 decommissioning date,' spokesperson Brian Wheeler said. It's unclear whether the challenges by Attorney General Dana Nessel and environmental groups would be settled by the end of August when the order expires. Fisk said the order could be extended. A lawsuit also could be pursued. In Pennsylvania, an oil-and-gas plant was also ordered to keep its turbines running as a hedge against electricity shortages in the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid. The Eddystone plant is just south of Philadelphia on the Delaware River. Ed White, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Michigan, environmental groups challenge federal order to keep power plant open
DETROIT (AP) — Environmental groups and Michigan's attorney general filed separate challenges Wednesday against a federal order that is keeping a coal-fired power plant open this summer. The environmental coalition said there's no energy emergency that would justify keeping Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell plant alive in Ottawa County, near Lake Michigan. The U.S. Energy Department 'has no authority to compel Consumers to rehabilitate — and effectively reconstruct — the increasingly unreliable plant, nor to override the state's and utility's decision to replace the plant with less expensive and cleaner sources,' the 54-page petition says. Consumers Energy had planned to close the power station by May 31 as part of a transition to cleaner energy. But the Energy Department intervened just days earlier, saying the plant must remain open, at least until late August, because of possible electricity shortfalls in the central U.S. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, known as MISO, manages the flow of electricity in 15 U.S. states and Manitoba in Canada. MISO has said there should be enough electricity this summer though it cited the potential for 'elevated risk' during extreme weather. 'This type of order is fairly unprecedented,' said lawyer Shannon Fisk of Earthjustice. 'It's a fabricated emergency.' There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from the Energy Department. Consumers Energy said it is complying with the federal order. 'The first coal delivery arrived at the plant before the original May 31 decommissioning date,' spokesperson Brian Wheeler said. It's unclear whether the challenges by Attorney General Dana Nessel and environmental groups would be settled by the end of August when the order expires. Fisk said the order could be extended. A lawsuit also could be pursued. In Pennsylvania, an oil-and-gas plant was also ordered to keep its turbines running as a hedge against electricity shortages in the 13-state mid-Atlantic grid. The Eddystone plant is just south of Philadelphia on the Delaware River.
