U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has issued an emergency order aimed at reducing the risk of power outages and addressing grid security concerns in the Midwest. The directive instructs the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), in partnership with Consumers Energy, to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan available for operation. MISO is also required to take measures to minimize costs for consumers.
The Department of Energy (DOE) had previously issued a similar order on May 23, after which the Campbell plant played a key role during periods of high electricity demand and low output from intermittent energy sources. The plant was originally scheduled for closure on May 31, about 15 years before reaching its designed operational lifespan.
“The United States continues to face an energy emergency, with some regions experiencing more capacity constraints than others. With electricity demand increasing, we must put an end to the dangerous energy subtraction policies embraced by politicians for too long,” said U.S.Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “This order will help ensure millions of Americans can continue to access affordable, reliable, and secure baseload power regardless of whether the wind is blowing or the sun is shining.”
DOE’s Grid Reliability Evaluation projects that if dependable power sources are retired prematurely, outages could become much more frequent—potentially increasing by up to 100 times by 2030.
The current emergency order will remain in effect from August 21 through November 19, 2025.
Recent reports have highlighted growing reliability challenges in MISO’s service area throughout all seasons—not just summer months. In response to these concerns, MISO requested approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in late 2021 to modify its capacity planning process so that requirements are set for each season rather than only for peak summer demand. This request was approved by FERC on August 31, 2022 (see https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/filedownload?fileid=BFDFE2A3-30A6-C7C5-726B-3E75A8D00000).
MISO explained that “Reliability risks associated with Resource Adequacy have shifted from ‘Summer only’ to a year-round concern.”
Forecasts by NOAA have indicated an increased likelihood of above-normal temperatures across parts of the Midwest this summer. In April 2025, NOAA estimated a probability between 33% and 40%, which rose to between 40% and 50% as updated in June.
