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Residents at public comment urge Ottawa County to support closing Campbell coal plant
Summary
Multiple residents at the Jan. 13 public comment period urged the board to rescind a prior resolution supporting the coal plant and favor a transition away from coal, citing operating costs and public‑health harms.
Several residents used the public‑comment period to press the board to reverse a prior county resolution that in their view had supported continued operation of the Campbell coal plant in Port Sheldon.
"I respectfully ask you to adopt a resolution supporting the closure of the Campbell plant," Pat Nelson of Grand Haven told commissioners. "The Campbell plant costs rate payers about $615,000 per day to operate — over $220,000,000 a year." Nelson framed the request as a financial and public‑health issue, saying closure would reduce pollution linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illness.
Former city manager Ryan Cotton also urged the board to rethink last year’s resolution and support an energy‑resiliency plan emphasizing renewables and new technologies. "Reconsider and rescind your resolution last year maintaining technology that is old in relation to that power plant," Cotton said. Citizens at the meeting asked the board to weigh financial, environmental and workforce transition needs as they consider future energy positions.
The board did not act on energy policy at the meeting; commissioners acknowledged the public comments as part of the record.
