Overview

• The Department of Energy directed Consumers Energy and MISO to keep the J.H. Campbell plant in West Olive, Michigan, operating until November.
• This marks a second extension after a May order that kept the unit online through Aug. 21 to cover summer needs.
• Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the plant has been critical during spikes in demand and shortfalls from intermittent generation.
• FERC approved Consumers Energy’s request to recover compliance costs associated with the DOE orders.
• E&E News reported the utility spent about $29 million over five weeks to maintain operations, and reporting links the move to administration goals to meet rising power demand from data centers, AI, and electrification as electricity prices rose 5.5% year over year in July.