A federal appeals court has rejected the Trump administration's effort to keep an aging Michigan coal plant running, multiple outlets reported Friday, citing a ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
The court found the Energy Department exceeded its authority under the Federal Power Act when it invoked emergency powers to keep Consumers Energy Co.'s J.H. Campbell plant operating past its planned May 2025 retirement, according to the reports.
The department had issued six successive 90-day emergency orders to keep the 1,420-megawatt plant online, the most recent on Aug. 14, citing grid reliability concerns in the Midwest, the reports said.
Energy Department spokesperson Emily Matthews said the emergency orders, including at Campbell, prevented blackouts and likely saved lives during peak capacity events over the past year, Bloomberg reported.
The ruling could affect the administration's use of the same authority to keep other coal and fossil-fuel generating units operating nationwide, according to the reports.