Donald Trump Illegally Extends Life of the Coal-Fired Craig Unit 1, Driving Up Electricity Bills and Increasing Pollution - CleanTechnica

The article reports that the Trump administration has controversially used an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act—historically reserved for extreme weather or wartime situations—to extend the operation of aging and costly coal-fired power plants, including Craig Unit 1 in Colorado. This move forces these plants to remain online past their planned retirement dates, resulting in increased electricity bills and higher pollution levels. Similar extensions have been applied to other plants such as the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan and the Eddystone power plant, with the Campbell extension reportedly costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Environmental groups, notably the Sierra Club, strongly oppose these orders, arguing that they prioritize coal industry profits over public interest and clean energy goals. Sierra Club leaders emphasize that the extensions unfairly burden consumers, especially those already facing financial hardships, by raising utility costs and perpetuating reliance on dirty, expensive coal power. They have taken legal action, including appeals to the D.C. Court of Appeals, challenging the