U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order aimed at maintaining grid reliability in the Midwest, directing the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and Consumers Energy to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan operational. The order is intended to reduce the risk of power outages and address ongoing grid security concerns in the region.
The Campbell plant was initially scheduled for shutdown on May 31, fifteen years before reaching its design life expectancy. Since a Department of Energy (DOE) order on May 23, the plant has played a significant role during periods of high energy demand and limited intermittent energy production.
“The United States continues to face an energy emergency, with some regions experiencing more capacity constraints than others. With electricity demand increasing, we must put an end to the dangerous energy subtraction policies embraced by politicians for too long,” said U.S.Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “This order will help ensure millions of Americans can continue to access affordable, reliable, and secure baseload power regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.”
According to DOE’s Grid Reliability Evaluation, if reliable power sources are removed from service, there could be a substantial increase in power outages by 2030.
The emergency order will remain effective from August 21 through November 19, 2025.
Recent seasonal outlooks have shown increased chances for above-normal temperatures across parts of the Midwest this summer. In April 2025, NOAA estimated a 33%-40% probability for higher-than-average temperatures; by June 2025, that estimate rose to between 40% and 50%.
In response to shifting reliability risks throughout all seasons—not just summer—MISO sought approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late 2021 to revise its resource adequacy requirements. FERC approved these changes in August 2022, allowing MISO to establish capacity requirements for each season rather than only during peak summer demand. MISO explained that “Reliability risks associated with Resource Adequacy have shifted from ‘Summer only’ to a year-round concern.”
