Environmental Groups Challenge Trump's Decision to Keep Michigan Coal Plant Open

Leaders from the NAACP and local environmental groups are strongly opposing President Donald Trump's recent decision to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in Ottawa County, Michigan, operational.

The plant, located in Port Sheldon Township along the Lake Michigan shoreline, was originally slated for closure in late May 2023. However, the Trump administration has invoked an emergency order multiple times, extending its operation in 90-day increments.

Cle Jackson, executive director of the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, emphasized that this decision poses a significant threat to public health and exacerbates environmental injustice, particularly affecting Black, brown, and underserved communities.

Kareem Scales, the environmental justice committee chair for the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, stated that the continuation of the plant's operation is a civil rights issue, highlighting the disproportionate impact of pollution on marginalized communities.

Scales criticized U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright's justification for the plant's continued operation, which claims it is essential to prevent blackouts due to rising energy demands from new projects, including AI data centers.

He argued there is no substantial evidence to support this claim, labeling the situation a 'manufactured emergency' and asserting that Michigan is not facing a genuine energy shortfall. Consumers Energy, which owns the J.H.

Campbell plant, has reported substantial financial losses, approximately $615,000 per day during the summer months, totaling around $80 million in net costs over just four months. The company plans to pass these costs onto utility customers across eleven states, following approval from federal regulators.

Local activists are concerned that the financial burden on ratepayers is unjust, especially as they believe energy needs should not come at the expense of public health and environmental integrity. In response, the NAACP is encouraging community involvement through a survey on the impacts of the Campbell plant on local residents' health and costs.

Lawsuits have already been filed challenging the U.S. Energy Department's emergency orders, reflecting the rising tensions between fossil fuel interests and climate action initiatives in Michigan. This ongoing conflict highlights the broader issues of environmental policy and sustainability in the face of pressing climate challenges.