Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison challenged on Apr. 2 emergency orders from the Trump administration that require two Indiana coal-fired power plants to continue operating beyond their planned retirement dates.
The issue is significant because the orders could impact ratepayers, environmental protections, and ongoing efforts by states to transition toward cleaner energy sources. The move also raises questions about federal authority in managing state-level energy decisions.
According to Raoul, “The Trump administration’s orders represent yet another policy intended to take our nation backwards by undoing years of progress states have made toward clean, renewable energy sources – regardless of the impact on ratepayers and the environment.” He said there was no genuine emergency to justify keeping outdated coal plants running and added, “These actions threaten to undermine the clean energy solutions that our states are developing. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to oppose this unlawful overreach by the Department of Energy.”
The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued these emergency directives in December 2025 for R.M. Schahfer power plant in Wheatfield and F.B. Culley generating station in Newburgh, both located in Indiana. The midwestern electricity grid operator MISO was ordered to work with Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and CenterPoint Energy so that these aging plants remain available for operation despite needing costly maintenance.
Raoul and Ellison argued that Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act has historically only been used during wartime or natural disasters—not for speculative concerns about electric capacity shortages when no evidence exists, as reported by the official website. They also noted that continued operation will increase pollution levels—including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury—and could harm public health as well as ecosystems such as the Great Lakes.
Flooding events attributed partly to climate change have already caused billions in damage across Illinois; for example, $500 million worth of property damage occurred during storms in Cook County between June and July 2023 alone.
As part of its broader mission, the Illinois Attorney General’s office advocates for vulnerable groups including workers, immigrants and seniors; handles thousands of consumer complaints annually; promotes safer communities; partners with law enforcement; supports crime victims; encourages open government; offers complaint services related to consumer fraud or civil rights violations; protects consumers’ interests; promotes environmental protection efforts statewide—all according to the official website.