Have you ever faced an argument so absurd that you first wonder if it was intended as a joke, and then you struggle to frame words that seem self-evident? “The world is flat, the sky is green, gravity doesn’t exist.” Seriously? Where do you start? This summer, Wolverine found itself in the middle of the oddest argument I’ve faced in my career – do we really need to have electricity all the time?

This started when Consumers Energy asked the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval to retire the Campbell Power Plant in 2025, 15 years ahead of schedule. Imagine our disbelief at the announcement and at the timing. From my perspective:

  • Campbell 3 is one of the cleanest, newest, and best-operating plants in the Midwest
  • Even with Campbell 3 operating, Michigan requires out-of-state generation to meet its peak demand
  • Consumers and its joint owners of Campbell 3 (including Wolverine) invested more than a billion dollars in modern environmental controls based on Consumers’ statements that the plant would operate until 2040
  • Capacity and energy costs are selling at their highest levels in modern history
  • Demand for electricity is expected to increase as the Big 3 shift much of their fleets to electric vehicles, further increasing electric demands.

Consumers is unlikely to construct enough new generation to replace the energy and capacity lost if Campbell 3 closes in 2025.

After a few weeks of disbelief, Wolverine and its members dug in. Wolverine has a meaningful financial interest in Campbell 3, and early closure will result in millions of dollars in economic hardship. In addition, if nothing is built to replace Campbell 3, I think Michigan will be at high risk of extended rolling blackouts in a few years. Even though Wolverine has built enough generation to supply its members during peak demand periods, the nature of the bulk power grid is such that If Consumers is forced into rolling blackouts, our members will need to follow suit.

Wolverine is fighting at the Michigan Public Service Commission, exploring regulatory and legal means to protect our members, and has engaged local, regional, and national media outlets to raise awareness of this dangerous industry trajectory. Wolverine has traditionally sought to keep a low media profile, preferring instead to enjoy quiet success and support our members’ brands. Given the high stakes of this issue and the public nature of this fight, Wolverine feels no choice but to engage directly. You may have seen local television interviews this summer, or the Voices for Cooperative Power Campaign championed by Wolverine’s member cooperatives. You may also see a few national interviews by me or my team, wherein we attempt to bring light to this essential issue.

I fully support new carbon-free forms of electric generation. In fact, Wolverine and its members are leaders in carbon-free electric portfolio. I think our nation should dedicate significant resources to develop new technologies and systems that can better store electricity. I also feel a responsibility to leave healthy and sustainable power plans for future generations of rural Michigan cooperative members.

I do not support reckless plans justified flimsily with a false promise of decarbonization. I do not support plans that commit us to tearing down the old house, before we have constructed a new one. While Michigan shuts down viable power plants and crosses its fingers for a decarbonized future, China will construct nearly 125 coal plants the size of Campbell 3 in the next decade. Electricity is essential for modern life, and I intend to fight to keep the lights on.