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Residents urge Ottawa County to rescind support for keeping Campbell coal plant open
Summary
Several public commenters told the board the county should rescind its February 2025 resolution urging delay of the J.H. Campbell coal plant closure, citing Consumers Energy cost estimates (about $615,000/day) and MISO reports indicating adequate grid capacity.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period to urge the board to withdraw its earlier resolution supporting delay of the J.H. Campbell coal plant closure. Gail Burner, speaking for the League of Women Voters (Allen Chapter), said Consumers Energy's analysis shows closing Campbell will save customers "$600,000,000 by 2040" and cited a November NERC report saying the MISO grid has sufficient excess capacity (speaker 11): "Consumers Energy has stated that closing Campbell will save customers $600,000,000 by 2040."
April Beatty described seeing long coal trains she counted and said continued operation is costly to consumers: "Yesterday, I counted a 127 coal cars headed north to Port Sheldon" (speaker 12). Robert Funicello and others also urged the board to rescind the Feb. 2025 resolution, citing updated cost figures and the risk of passing costs to ratepayers. Commissioners acknowledged the public concerns and some noted that Consumers Energy and other stakeholders also present differing financial views.
