The Honorable Chris Wright
Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
Dear Secretary Wright:
Please help arrange a pre-application consultation with the Office of Energy Dominance Financing under the Department of Energy.
The Exploratory Committee for Locally Controlled Electric Cooperative in Ottawa County, Michigan, representing many township boards in the county, submitted a request for a pre-application consultation on May 23, 2026, in accordance with the Office of Energy Dominance Financing’s procedures. The Committee received acknowledgment of our submission, but we have not yet been able to obtain a pre-application consultation. We respectfully ask for your assistance in having the Office schedule the requested consultation.
We also appreciate your intervention on behalf of the J.H. Campbell generating plant, which resulted in the plant’s closure being delayed by executive order. Consumers Energy continues to pursue the plant’s demolition. We believe the Exploratory Committee’s proposal provides a viable alternative for keeping the plant operating while also supporting an environmentally responsible co-located data center.
The proposed project would involve a locally controlled electric cooperative acquiring and retooling the Campbell generating plant for long-term electric generation, together with data center co-location. The proposal has an estimated total project cost of $403 million and an estimated federal loan request of $103 million. We are seeking the Department’s guidance through the pre-application consultation process regarding the potential federal assistance available for this proposal.
Thank you for your consideration and for your past attention to the future of the J.H. Campbell generating plant. We would greatly appreciate your assistance in getting the requested consultation scheduled.
Sincerely,
Attachment: Pre-Application Consultation Request Submitted May 23, 2026
Project Name: “Save The Campbell”
Project Location: Michigan
Description of Technology: Advanced Fossil
Project Description: to “Save The Campbell” in Ottawa County, Michigan by the Exploratory Committee for Locally Controlled Electric Cooperative seeking further Federal Administration assistance
Total Project Cost: $403,000,000.00
Estimated Loan Request Amount: $103,000,000.00
Description of 1706 Program Eligibility: This project will retool Ottawa County, Michigan’s JH Campbell generating plant for long-term electric generation use combined with data center co-location, in order to prevent the Whitmer Administration’s current drive to demolish the plant. The locally controlled electric cooperative in process of formation should be enabled to purchase the plant from Consumers Energy, which wants to demolish it as soon as possible.
Organization Information
Organization Name: Exploratory Committee for Locally Controlled Electric Cooperative – currently represents many township boards in Ottawa County, MI, along with many local political leaders
Company Website:https://savethecampbell.com/draft-deal-for-discussion-purposes/
State: Michigan
Organization Status: Start Up
Primary Contact Information
First Name: Joseph
Last Name: McCarter
Title/Position: Moderator of the Exploratory Committee for Locally Controlled Electric Cooperative
Email Address:joseph.mccarter@protonmail.com
Mobile Phone: (616) 238-5535
How did you find us?: I have been following the Trump Administration’s energy efforts, which are in fact inspiring what we are seeking in Ottawa County, Michigan for our JH Campbell generating plant. We have relied on its executive orders to delay the plant’s closure, and now we seek it to help us secure the plant’s long-term use for energy and technology needs. Many local leaders and citizens support this.