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Residents and local activists clash over county's stance on Campbell power plant
Summary
Public commenters at the meeting urged the board to either rescind or reaffirm its prior resolution about the Campbell coal plant. Supporters cited recent MISO events and plant operation during cold weather; opponents cited health, cost and prior MPSC findings that retirement served the public interest.
The Campbell Energy plant and the board's 02/05/2025 resolution asking regulators to delay its closure drew extended public comment. Speakers took opposing positions: some urged the county to rescind its supportive resolution, citing costs and air-quality harms; others said recent operational events showed the plant bolsters reliability during extreme cold and urged local control.
John Beyer, a Holland resident, argued the county should rescind the prior resolution and pointed to potential health and economic costs from continued coal burning. "Keeping the plant open imposes unnecessary costs, harmful health risks, and harms the environment," he told commissioners. Mary Ellen Micah and other commenters referenced MPSC and MISO findings that the retirement had been reviewed and that replacement capacity had been planned.
Opposing those arguments, Joseph Purnell McCarter, a volunteer leader with the Save the Campbell effort, cited a recent MISO "Max Gen" event and said supporters observed Campbell units operating during a winter reliability event. "A Max Gen event is an emergency declaration signaling that electricity demand is exceeding or is about to exceed available supply," he said, urging the county to consider local control measures and further study. Commissioners did not take a new vote on the resolution that night but heard repeated calls to revisit or reaffirm the county's prior position.
