Christine Ho, christine.ho@sierraclub.org
Jackson, MI - Today, Consumers Energy reported that keeping the J.H. Campbell power plant online after the illegal 90-day ‘emergency order’ issued by the Department of Energy in May 2025 cost ratepayers $53 million, even after accounting for energy revenues. The second order, issued in August, has already cost ratepayers $27 million after accounting for energy revenues, leading to a total of $80 million in costs related to Campbell’s forced operation. This averages to over $600,000 per day to run an inefficient, dirty plant – while offering no benefit to consumers. Sierra Club is actively challenging both orders in federal court.
In August, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered that costs to comply with these illegal and unnecessary coal plant extensions will be paid by ratepayers in Michigan and 10 other states (IL, IN, IA, KY, MN, MO, MT, ND, SD, and WI). Sierra Club has contested that order.
In response, Sierra Club Senior Advisor Jessi Eidbo issued the following statement:
“While families across the Mid-Atlantic region are already making difficult decisions at the dinner table regarding the high cost of living, Donald Trump is only making things worse by driving up energy costs even more. The astronomical costs to keep these plants open are dollars that customers are being forced to pay, when that money could be spent on groceries, rent, school supplies, and more.
“Extending operations at J.H. Campbell does not address any ‘energy emergency’, because there isn’t one. The real crisis Americans are facing is the skyrocketing bills they are handed month after month, while the Trump administration continues to give massive handouts to the fossil fuel industry.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.