A Michigan power plant that has consumed coal in a roaring furnace to generate electricity since the early 1960s was supposed to retire last year. The Trump administration has so far prevented five aging coal-fired power plants from shutting down at their planned retirement dates. It’s a relatively new use for an Energy Department emergency power normally deployed to bypass pollution limits and keep power plants running more frequently during a hurricane, or the recent winter cold snaps. But maintaining ancient power plants is very expensive. “These are old plants,” said Michael Goggin, executive vice president of energy consulting group Grid Strategies and the author of the recent report tallying the costs of coal plants.

Source: CNN February 05, 2026 18:36 UTC