Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued emergency orders directing Northern Indiana Public Service Company, CenterPoint Energy, and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator to keep specific generation units at the R.M. Schahfer and F.B. Culley coal plants operational in Indiana. These units were previously scheduled to shut down at the end of 2025.
The directive aims to ensure Midwestern Americans retain access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity during periods of high energy demand, such as peak summer months. The orders are effective from June 22 through September 19, 2026.
The Department of Energy noted that since the initial order on December 23, 2025, these coal plants have been critical to grid operations, particularly during periods of high demand and low renewable energy availability, such as during Winter Storm Fern.
Energy Secretary Wright stated that removing reliable generation risks compromising energy reliability and raising costs for Americans. He emphasized the importance of dependable energy sources to power and cool homes in the Midwest.
The DOE cited President Trump's leadership as instrumental in saving over 17 gigawatts of coal-power generation from premature retirement across the country in 2025.
According to DOE's Resource Adequacy Report, continued retirement of reliable power sources could increase power outages by up to 100 times by 2030. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator's service area continues to face emergency conditions due to rising demand and generator retirements.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation cautioned in its 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment that resource additions do not currently keep pace with demand forecasts and announced retirements. Its 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment also indicated accelerating load growth in the MISO region beginning in 2027, which may further increase reliability risks if supply does not rise accordingly.