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Ottawa County public hearings, debate over J.H. Campbell plant culminate in failed vote to authorize litigation
Summary
After hours of public comment and extended debate, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners considered several actions related to Consumers Energy’s planned early closure and demolition of the J.H. Campbell power plant. The board declined to authorize litigation to postpone the plant’s closure, rejecting the motion 8–3.
Public comment at the April 22 meeting of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners centered on Consumers Energy’s plan to close and demolish the J.H. Campbell power plant in Port Sheldon Township. Dozens of residents urged the board either to press regulators for a postponement or to take legal action after a December 2024 North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) report flagged Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) for long-term reliability risk.
The matter returned to the board in multiple forms during the meeting. Commissioners first removed a separate agenda item that would have authorized the county administrator to forward a resolution to the U.S. Department of Energy — a staff member told the board the federal agency had already been made aware of the county’s earlier resolution. The board then debated a resolution calling for further action to address reliability concerns and to ask regulators to reconsider or delay the plant closure.
Supporters of delaying the closure said Campbell remains a major local generation source and argued its premature removal could threaten local grid reliability. Public commenters included residents and local advocates who said the plant is a clean, dependable source of baseload power and that state and regional planning assumptions should be revisited before demolition proceeds. Opponents warned litigation and other county-level actions might be costly, redundant with state or federal review, or legally uncertain.
After discussion, a motion to authorize county administration and corporation counsel to commence litigation to postpone the plant’s closure and demolition failed on a roll-call vote, 8–3. The three who voted yes argued the county has authority to intervene and should use every tool available to protect local reliability; the eight who voted no cited cost, uncertain legal outcomes, and the expectation that state and federal processes are under way.
The board did not adopt a directive to file suit. Commissioners and staff said they would continue to monitor the matter and follow any action by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and federal offices that have been engaged. The county’s lobbyist reported outreach was underway with state and federal officials.
Ending: The Campbell plant debate remained active but without new county litigation after the vote. Commissioners said they expect to continue communications with regulators and to weigh follow-up measures as new information or external actions arise.
