{
  "id": 6811229,
  "title": "Trump's forced coal plant extensions thrown out by judge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/trumps-forced-coal-plant-extensions-thrown-out-by-judge-6811229",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-11T20:32:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ars Technica",
    "slug": "ars-technica",
    "url": "https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/court-rejects-governments-energy-emergency-that-kept-coal-plant-open/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The use of coal for electricity generation in the U.S. grid has been declining for nearly two decades, and the initial Trump administration was unable to reverse the trend. The second Trump administration, however, sought to bolster coal usage through more assertive measures, including orders to keep coal plants operational even when there was no immediate need. The administration used a statute that enables the Department of Energy (DOE) to declare an emergency during wartime or in response to a sudden decline in generation. This assertion was challenged by various entities, including states where coal plants were set to close. In the first legal challenge to reach the courts, a judge ruled that the emergency declaration was not in compliance with the statute. The case centered on the J.H. Campbell Generating Plant in Michigan, which was scheduled to shut down last year but remained open due to five emergency declarations by the DOE, each lasting a maximum of 90 days under the Federal Power Act. The decision, handed down by a unanimous three-judge panel from the DC Circuit's Court of Appeals, applies to all coal plant closures blocked by the DOE.",
  "summary": "The Department of Energy declared an \"emergency\" when none existed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The New York Times",
        "title": "Court Strikes Down Trump Order to Keep an Aging Coal-Burning Plant Running",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/court-strikes-down-trump-order-to-keep-an-aging-coal-burning-plant",
        "published": "2026-09-11T18:35:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Trump administration announces first-ever deportation from terrorist removal court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/trump-administration-announces-first-ever-deportation-from-terrorist",
        "published": "2026-09-11T19:08:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian US",
        "title": "Federal court rejects Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/federal-court-rejects-trump-order-keeping-michigan-coal-plant-open",
        "published": "2026-09-11T19:10:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mongabay",
        "title": "Federal court rejects Trump order keeping Michigan coal plant open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/federal-court-rejects-trump-order-keeping-michigan-coal-plant-open-6795453",
        "published": "2026-09-11T19:31:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ars Technica Science",
        "title": "Trump's forced coal plant extensions thrown out by judge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/trumps-forced-coal-plant-extensions-thrown-out-by-judge",
        "published": "2026-09-11T20:32:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Grist",
        "title": "A federal judge just told Trump there’s no “emergency” to justify keeping a Michigan coal plant open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/a-federal-judge-just-told-trump-theres-no-emergency-to-justify",
        "published": "2026-09-11T21:20:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "U.S. court strikes down DoE emergency order delaying Michigan coal plant retirement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/u-s-court-strikes-down-doe-emergency-order-delaying-michigan-coal",
        "published": "2026-09-11T22:06:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Federal court rejects Trump administration order keeping Michigan coal plant open",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/federal-court-rejects-trump-administration-order-keeping-michigan",
        "published": "2026-09-11T23:02:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "US judge blocks Trump administration's 'loyalty' question for job applicants",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/us-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-loyalty-question-for-job-6830857",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:06:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "US judge blocks Trump administration's 'loyalty' question for job applicants",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/us-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-loyalty-question-for-job",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:27:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "US judge blocks Trump administration’s ’loyalty’ question for job applicants",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/us-judge-blocks-trump-administrations-loyalty-question-for-job-6831785",
        "published": "2026-09-12T00:36:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}