Trump Administration Forces Coal Plants to Delay Retirements

The Trump administration has invoked rarely used emergency powers under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to force nine coal-burning units at six power plants to remain operational past their scheduled retirement dates. The move follows a March 2025 request from the coal trade group America’s Power, which urged the Energy Department to intervene to protect grid reliability against surging electricity demand.

While the administration argues these orders are necessary to prevent blackouts, the policy has faced legal and corporate resistance. Utility owners, including CenterPoint Energy and Northern Indiana Public Service Company, have protested the costs of maintaining plants they deem uneconomic. A U.S. Court of Appeals panel recently struck down an order for the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan, ruling that the Energy Department overstepped its authority.

Despite the court ruling, the department continues to renew orders for plants in Indiana, Colorado, and Washington. In a related effort to support the industry, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed the repeal of pollution rules previously requested by the coal industry.