Government Issues Emergency Order to Secure Grid Reliability

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U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order today to minimize the risk of blackouts and address critical grid security issues in the Midwestern region of the United States ahead of the high electricity demand expected this summer. Secretary Wright’s order directs the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), in coordination with Consumers Energy, to ensure that the 1,560 megawatt (MW) J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan, remains available for operation, minimizing any potential capacity shortfall that could lead to unnecessary power outages. The Campbell Plant was scheduled to shut down on May 31, which is 15 years before the end of its scheduled design life.

“Today’s emergency order ensures that Michiganders and the greater Midwest region do not lose critical power generation capability as summer begins and electricity demand regularly reach high levels,” Secretary Wright said.

The emergency order, which is issued by the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), is authorized by Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act and is in accordance with the President’s Executive Order: Declaring a National Energy Emergency. It will ensure the power generation availability in the region does not dip below 2024 capacity levels.