USA, Indiana: The US Department of Energy (DOE) has directed Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) and CenterPoint Energy to continue operating three coal-fired units in Indiana, totaling over 950 MW, beyond their planned retirement at the end of December.
The DOE cited emergency conditions in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region, pointing to studies and recent capacity auctions that suggest supply is tightening. In its 90-day emergency orders, the department warned that rising demand and the accelerated closure of generation facilities could create near-term shortages, which may persist in future years.
NIPSCO had planned to retire units at its Schahfer power plant, while CenterPoint intended to shut down F.B. Culley Unit 2, all set for 31 December. Under the orders, the plants must now remain online until 23 March, though DOE may extend this period if necessary. Similar emergency directives have been issued recently for power plants in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Washington, covering about 3.1 GW of generation.
The move has drawn criticism from advocacy groups such as the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, which argues the orders will increase electricity bills. “Forcing expensive and unreliable coal units to stay open will hit Hoosiers already struggling with record-high rates in 2025,” said Ben Inskeep, CAC program director.
Some DOE emergency orders, including the one for Michigan’s Campbell power plant, are facing legal challenges from state attorneys general and environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Earthjustice, who claim the department has not proven there is an actual energy emergency in the MISO region.
Source: Utility Dive
