# US federal court ruling on Michigan coal plant retirement > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-federal-court-ruling-on-michigan-coal-plant-retirement > Updated: 2026-09-14T16:26:14.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 2. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has vacated a Department of Energy (DOE) emergency order intended to delay the retirement of the J. H. Campbell Generating Plant in Michigan. The court issued a unanimous decision ruling that the administration exceeded its legal authority under the Federal Power Act. The court clarified that emergency powers are a ‘narrow, last-resort backstop’ for specific crises like war or extreme weather, rather than a mechanism to override state-approved retirement plans. While the administration, led by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, argued the order was necessary for regional electricity reliability and data center demands, the court found no genuine emergency to justify bypassing the decommissioning plans approved by Michigan regulators and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). The legal challenge was supported by the Michigan attorney general, officials from Illinois and Minnesota, and several environmental organizations. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-14: Federal court blocks DOE order to delay Michigan coal plant retirement A federal appeals court blocked a Department of Energy order to delay the retirement of a Michigan coal plant, ruling the agency exceeded its authority and usurped state responsibility for grid reliability. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/federal-court-blocks-doe-order-to-delay-michigan-coal-plant-retirement ### 2026-09-11: Federal court strikes down Trump administration order to keep Michigan coal plant open A federal court ruled the Department of Energy exceeded its authority by using emergency powers to force a Michigan coal plant to stay open past its planned retirement date. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/federal-court-overturns-order-to-keep-michigan-coal-plant-open --- Cite as: US federal court ruling on Michigan coal plant retirement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-federal-court-ruling-on-michigan-coal-plant-retirement