August 30, 2026 - Federal orders requiring a Michigan coal-fired power plant to remain operational have become an issue in the state's 4th Congressional District race, with Democratic challenger Sean McCann criticizing Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga over the facility's continued operation.

McCann said during an Aug. 25 campaign appearance in Saugatuck that keeping Consumers Energy's J.H. Campbell Generating Complex online has added more than $200 million in costs for utility customers. He said the plant should be allowed to close and pledged to support its retirement if elected.

Consumers Energy had planned to shut down the Campbell facility in May 2025 as part of its transition away from coal. However, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has issued a series of 90-day emergency orders requiring the plant to continue operating.

The Trump administration has said the additional generation is needed to protect grid reliability and reduce the risk of electricity shortages. Similar emergency orders have been used to keep other fossil-fuel generating facilities operating elsewhere in the country.

The Campbell plant is located in Michigan's 4th Congressional District, where Huizenga and McCann are competing in a race expected to be closely watched this fall.

Huizenga defended keeping reliable generation available, arguing that Michigan's energy policies are forcing power plants to retire before sufficient replacement capacity is in place. He blamed policies backed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state lawmakers, including McCann, for contributing to higher electricity costs.

McCann, who chairs the Michigan Senate Energy and Environment Committee, has supported the state's transition toward cleaner energy. Michigan legislation enacted in 2023 established a 100% clean-energy standard for utilities by 2040 and expanded state authority over large wind and solar projects.

U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, who joined McCann at the campaign event, also criticized the federal intervention. She argued for an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy that continues developing new generating resources rather than relying heavily on existing fossil-fuel plants.

The Campbell dispute reflects a broader debate over balancing the retirement of coal-fired generation with electricity costs, grid reliability and the development of replacement energy resources.