Donald Trump Illegally Extends Life of the Culley and Schahfer Coal Plants, Driving Up Electricity Bills for Hoosiers

INDIANAPOLIS - Today, as Americans are preparing for the holidays, the Trump administration issued an 'emergency' order to forcibly and illegally extend operations of F.B. Culley and R.M. Schahfer coal plants past their scheduled retirement, based on a sham reliability crisis that does not exist. The high cost to keep these aging coal plants online to, in part, power AI data centers are expected to be passed onto Hoosier families and small businesses.

Historically, these emergency orders-authorized by Section 202(c) of the Federal Powers Act-are used during extreme weather events and wartime, neither of which are present in Indiana. Here, Trump is using them to benefit wealthy utilities and coal mine corporations.

In May, the Trump administration forced the J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan and the Eddystone power plant to stay online past its planned operation. The existing extensions have already cost over $134 million dollars, all to be passed on to families. This number will continue to rise every day.

The Sierra Club is actively challenging the existing three emergency orders, including filing at the D.C. Court of Appeals over the DOE's failure to respond to a rehearing request regarding J.H. Campbell.

In response, Sierra Club released the following statements:

Nicole Chandler, Southwest Indiana Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer:

"Hoosiers are experiencing the highest increase in energy prices in two decades. Instead of making energy more affordable for families and small businesses, Trump has once again abandoned his promise to the American people and extended the life of costly, dangerous coal in Indiana that will lock us into higher prices and more pollution for years to come. Trump continues to rig the system in order for the billion-dollar fossil fuel industry to take more from hardworking folks who are trying to afford everyday expenses."

Beyond Coal Campaign Director Laurie Williams:

"In the midst of an affordability crisis, Donald Trump is forcing Americans to pay millions more dollars on utility bills-all to bolster the outdated and deadly coal industry. Americans should be able to spend their hard-earned dollars on rent, groceries, school supplies, and other essentials, not to keep a toxic, expensive, unnecessary coal plant online. This is taking "coal in your stocking" to the next level.

"These sham emergency orders have no legal basis, and their only purpose is to boost profits for Donald Trump's buddies in the coal industry. Trump and his administration has once again betrayed our communities and sold out hardworking Americans in order to benefit millionaire CEOs. We will continue to challenge these illegal and expensive orders and defend our communities from having to pay even higher energy bills."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.