A federal appeals court ruled that the administration exceeded its emergency authority by ordering Michigan’s J.H. Campbell coal plant to remain open after its scheduled retirement.
Continuing operations reportedly cost approximately $259 million, much of which could be passed to utility customers. The Energy Department argues that its intervention prevented blackouts, a claim contested by states and environmental groups.
What is confirmed
The court found that the legally required emergency had not been demonstrated. Competing claims about whether the order prevented blackouts remain disputed.