Feds' order to halt closure of aging Michigan coal plant is illegal, plaintiffs tell judges

"This administration came in with a fixation to funnel Americans' money to the coal industry," he said. "The administration is abusing federal authority to overrule decisions to retire polluting, failing coal plants, letting coal companies pollute the air we breathe and the water we drink — and then charge us the bill."…

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/environment-climate-change/2026-05-15/feds-order-to-halt-closure-of-aging-michigan-coal-plant-is-illegal-plaintiffs-tell-judges

 

Consumers Energy risks losing out on rate hikes without virtual power plant tech

A VPP is technology that can aggregate thousands of small sources of electricity to reduce stress on the electric grid. If enough of these sources are tapped, a VPP could potentially reduce the need to build a new gas power plant...

 https://www.michiganpublic.org/environment-climate-change/2026-04-11/state-regulators-warn-consumers-energy-to-plan-for-smart-grid-technology-or-risk-some-revenue 

Michigan’s governor replaces clean energy advocate on utilities board with ‘industry ally’ | Michigan | The Guardian

Each MPSC board vote is important because the commission is made up of three gubernatorial appointees, and Whitmer's decision amid a debate over rate increases could slow the state's ambitious clean energy transition and lead to higher energy bills, opponents warn. 

The decision marks the latest in a series of environmental controversies for Whitmer, a Democrat whose name has been discussed as a potential leading candidate for the party's nominee for president in 2028, but now faces increasing scrutiny over her record...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/03/gretchen-whitmer-utilities-board-clean-energy