Holland Reporter

State Representative Luke Meerman has expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for addressing his concerns regarding Michigan's energy security. Following a request from Meerman, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued an emergency order last Friday to enhance the reliability of Michigan’s energy grid.

The order was a response to issues highlighted by Meerman in a letter sent to Secretary Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. In his correspondence, Meerman outlined deficiencies in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which manages Michigan’s energy grid. He also raised concerns about the potential impact of closing the J.H. Campbell Power Plant, Michigan's last coal-operated facility owned by its largest energy provider.

Secretary Wright's emergency order mandates that MISO continue operating the J.H. Campbell Power Plant, citing that its planned closure would occur years before reaching its designed lifespan.

Rep. Meerman commented on the situation: “I’m grateful for the administration’s bold leadership and for Secretary Wright listening to the concerns we have for Michigan’s energy security.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining baseload energy production to meet demand during peak hours and warned against compromising reliability through diversification efforts.

Meerman further stated, “We cannot afford to shutter energy plants like the J.H. Campbell, or we will start facing widespread outages due to early generation retirement.” He also thanked "the president and his administration for safeguarding America’s energy security and for heading [sic] the concerns of our communities and constituents.”