The Trump Administration’s National Energy Emergency executive order calls for stopping electric plant closures, because our lack of electric generation “constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to our Nation’s economy, national security, and foreign policy.” As part of this, the Trump Administration also calls for co-locating AI data centers next to plants like the Campbell and receiving their electric from them, along with other customers of the plant.
The current MPSC/Consumers Energy plan is in clear violation of this executive order, so the Ottawa County Board should exercise its legal role and authority under Michigan Constitution Article VII, Section 15 to intervene and seek compliance of Consumers Energy with the executive order.
If this executive order route is followed, it is a way to significantly reduce electric rates for Ottawa County citizens. The high charges to the AI data center by the Campbell can subsidize lower rates for county rate payers. Consumers Energy customers pay 58% higher rates than Zeeland customers on municipalized electric. This outrageous rate difference is another reason the County Board needs to intervene on behalf of its citizens.
As a first step we request the Planning & Policy Committee to consider the issue, and subsequently draft a resolution calling upon the MPSC/Consumers Energy to come into compliance with the Trump Administration’s National Energy Emergency executive order, with the important benefit of correcting the overpricing of electric for Ottawa County Consumers Energy customers, and likely even reducing rates for all Ottawa County residents.
This action would be part of a multi-step plan to “Save The Campbell”.