Judge Overturns Trump-Era Orders to Keep Coal Plants Open

A federal judge has overturned Department of Energy (DOE) orders that compelled coal-fired power plants to continue operating beyond their scheduled closures. The ruling affects the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant in Michigan, which was originally slated for closure last year.

The DOE had justified its orders using a statute that allows for emergency declarations during wartime or sudden electricity shortages. Several states and other parties challenged these directives, and a federal appeals court in Washington has now ruled that the DOE acted contrary to the statute. The court determined that the legal basis for extending the plants' operations was not met.

The decision, issued unanimously by a three-judge panel, focuses on the J.H. Campbell plant, which had been kept online through five consecutive 90-day emergency declarations. The ruling's reasoning is expected to apply to all other instances where the DOE has blocked coal plant closures.

Coal's share of U.S. electricity generation has been in decline for nearly two decades, a trend the previous administration attempted to reverse through more aggressive interventions. These latest efforts to support coal usage have now been rejected by the courts, reflecting a broader shift away from fossil fuels in the energy sector.