Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow

Michigan regulators deny permit for proposed coal plant

A Michigan state regulatory agency today denied an air quality permit to Wolverine Power for a proposed coal plant, citing the facility’s cost and saying the utility had failed to demonstrate it would be needed.
By Ken Paulman

  • Link copied to clipboard

A Michigan state regulatory agency denied an air quality permit for a proposed coal-fired power plant today.

The state Department of Natural Resources and Environment denied the permit requested by Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative to build a 600 megawatt plant south of the town of Rogers City. The agency said the utility had failed to demonstrate a need for the plant and hadn’t fully explored alternatives (view denial letter (PDF)).

In a news release, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said the project would have been a ​“job-killer” and a ​“roadblock in our efforts to bring new economic development investments to Michigan.”

“We are protecting hundreds of thousands of Michigan homeowners, businesses, and farmers from paying a whopping increase in their electric bills, which would have been among the highest in the nation,” she said.

In a letter sent today (PDF) to Granholm, Orjiakor N. Isiogu, chairman of the state’s public service commission, said the plant would have resulted in an estimated rate increase of nearly $77 per month for residential customers.

A spokesperson for Wolverine Power did not return a call requesting comment.

This signup form requires necessary cookies.

Allow marketing cookies to load the newsletter signup form.

Ken Paulman is the director of impact at Canary Media. He was previously the founder and director of the Energy News Network, which merged with Canary Media in 2025.

read next