J. H. Campbell Generating Plant
| J. H. Campbell Generating Plant | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Location | West Olive, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°54′43.5″N 86°12′08.3″W / 42.912083°N 86.202306°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | Unit 1:1962 Unit 2:1967 Unit 3:1980 |
| Owner | Consumers Energy |
| Operator | Consumers Energy |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Subbituminous Coal |
| Turbine technology | Steam turbine |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 1 X 265 MW 1 X 385 MW 1 X 770 MW |
| Nameplate capacity | 1,420 MW |
| Annual net output | 7,669 Gwh (2025)[1] |
J. H. Campbell Generating Plant is a 1,420 MW,[2] three-unit coal-fired generating plant in West Olive, Michigan which uses sub-bituminous coal.[3][4] It is owned and operated by Consumers Energy, a subsidiary of CMS Energy.
History
The plant began operating in 1962.[5] As of 2020, the plant had three units: unit 1 produces 265 MW, unit 2 produces 385 MW, and unit 3 produces 848 MW.[6]
All units were scheduled to be closed in May 2025 as per CMS Energy's plan to eliminate coal use by 2040.[7][8][9] Consumers Energy estimated that the closure would save ratepayers $600 million by 2040.[5] On May 23, 2025, the US Department of Energy under fossil-fuel CEO Chris Wright ordered the plant to stay open "at least until late August [2025], claiming possible electricity shortfalls in the central U.S."[10] Grid operator Midcontinent Independent System Operator stated, however, that it had "adequate resources to meet peak demand" during the summer of 2025 without the plant.[5]
The Trump administration intervened again in August 2025 to extend the operation of the plant until at least November 2025, imposing costs of $1 million per day on ratepayers during the extended operating period.[5] In November 2025, the US Department of Energy ordered the plant to remain open for an additional 90 days; in response, the Attorney General of Michigan filed a motion to halt what she labeled as the "arbitrary and illegal" order to keep the plant running.[11][12] In July 2026, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers sent a letter to the DOE calling for an end to the arbitrary time extensions. In addition to costs passed on the Michigan ratepayers, it is estimated that running the plant will cost Wisconsin ratepayers $117 million.[13]
Environmental impact
In 2024, the plant released 8,112,873 tons of CO2, 4,920 tons of SO2, and 2,932 tons of NOx.[14]
There are three ponds at the plant which are used to store coal ash. Environmental groups like the Michigan Environmental Council claim that heavy metals and other residuals from these ponds have been leaking into groundwater. In response, CMS Energy is now emptying these ponds and transferring the coal ash to landfills.[15]
See also
- Coal-fired Power plant
- Coal Mining in the United States
- Coal Power in the United States
- Electricity Sector of the United States
- Energy in the United States
- List of coal-fired power stations in the United States
- List of natural gas-fired power stations in the United States
- List of power stations in Michigan
- List of power stations in the United States
References
- ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov.
- ↑ "James H. Campbell Unit No. 3 > MPPA". Michigan Public Power Agency | MPower. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 Milman, Oliver (August 21, 2025). "A coal-fired plant in Michigan was to close. But Trump forced it to keep running at $1m a day". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
- ↑ "JH Campbell Plant". www.newkirk-electric.com. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
- ↑ "Last coal plant on the Saginaw Bay goes offline in 2023". mlive. June 13, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Electric Generation". Consumers Energy. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Electric Power Monthly". U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Trump administration orders west Michigan coal plant to stay open". CBS News. May 27, 2025. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
- ↑ Perkins, Tom (November 28, 2025). "Trump order to keep Michigan power plant open costs taxpayers $113m". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 28, 2025. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ Brown, Claire (May 14, 2026). "Trump's Push to Keep Coal Plants Open Is Costing Hundreds of Millions". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ↑ Joe Schulz (July 21, 2026). "Gov. Evers calls on Trump administration to stop extending life of coal plants". WPR. Retrieved July 29, 2026.
- ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ Service, Gina NavaroliCapital News. "J.H. Campbell plant monitors groundwater for coal ash contaminants". Holland Sentinel. Retrieved September 26, 2020.