CAC’s Alt Applauds Appeals Court Decision Blocking Trump DOE’s Fake ‘Emergency’ Coal Order
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 11, 2026
Contact: Gabrielle Levy, glevy@cacampaign.org
CAC’s Alt Applauds Appeals Court Decision Blocking Trump DOE’s Fake ‘Emergency’ Coal Order
WASHINGTON–Today, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the people of the state of Michigan in its challenge against the Trump administration’s order extending operations of the J.H. Campbell coal plant, which was slated to shut down last year. In the unanimous ruling, the court was "unpersuaded" by the Department of Energy’s "sweeping conception of its ’emergency’ authority" and acted "without regard to the multiple procedural and substantive constraints built into state reliability planning processes." CAC Director Marge Alt issued the following statement in response:
"The Trump administration manufactured an energy ’emergency’ to cater to their friends in the fossil fuel industry, overriding economic, environmental, and local concerns. Their decision was far from being in the best interests of the people of Michigan and the United States.
"The Campbell plant, and 6 others the DOE has forced to remain in operation, weren’t scheduled to shut down based on politics. They were slated to close because dirty, outdated fossil fuels can’t compete financially against other options, namely, clean sources such as wind and solar power, and because people have run out of patience putting up with the damage coal pollution does to the climate and public health.
"Keeping these coal plants operating has cost ratepayers half a billion dollars – and counting. We’re stuck paying for the privilege of breathing dirty air and drinking poisoned water while Trump’s buddies line their pockets. The Trump administration’s fake emergency was both corrupt and irresponsible. Michigan didn’t stand for it, and neither will the rest of us."
