U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order to address ongoing grid reliability concerns in the Midwest as winter approaches. The directive requires the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), working with Consumers Energy, to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan operational through the winter months. The plant was originally scheduled for closure on May 31, 2025, well before its intended design lifespan.
Secretary Wright stated, “Because of the last administration’s dangerous energy subtraction policies targeting reliable and affordable energy sources, the United States continues to face an energy emergency. The Trump administration will keep taking action to reverse these energy subtraction policies, lowering energy costs and minimizing the risks of blackouts. Americans deserve access to affordable, reliable and secure energy regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining, especially in dangerously cold weather.”
The Department of Energy (DOE) had previously issued orders regarding this plant on May 23 and August 20, 2025. Since then, DOE reports that the Campbell facility has played a critical role during periods when demand was high and renewable generation was low.
According to DOE’s Resource Adequacy Report, if current trends continue and more reliable power sources are retired without sufficient replacements, power outages could become much more frequent by 2030.
Recent assessments from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) have found that MISO’s region faces elevated risks for insufficient reserves during winter conditions.
The new emergency order takes effect November 19, 2025 and remains active until February 17, 2026.
Background information highlights that MISO’s Planning Resource Auction Results for 2025-2026 showed capacity additions were not enough to counteract losses from retirements or decreased accreditation in northern and central zones including Michigan.
MISO has also acknowledged that resource adequacy challenges now persist year-round rather than being limited to summer peaks. In response, MISO sought approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late 2021 to revise its planning requirements so they apply across all seasons—a change FERC approved in August 2022.
MISO explained at that time: “Reliability risks associated with Resource Adequacy have shifted from ‘Summer only’ to a year-round concern.”
