J.H. Campbell Complex Retirement

Campbell Complex Retirement Begins for a Better Future

As part of our mission to become a cleaner, leaner and flexible energy company, we're officially retiring our J.H. Campbell Complex. This will allow us to get closer to end coal use, lower our carbon footprint, and add more renewable energy for us to deliver.

A Look Back at the Campbell Complex

The Complex’s History

The J.H. Campbell Complex began operating in 1962 and generates up to 1,450 megawatts of electricity – enough to serve a million people! The 2000-acre facility was named after James H. Campbell who was a former company president from 1960 to 1972.

Community Around the Complex

The complex has many recreational features including its jetties, which ensure there’s enough water flow to cool the water supply. Both homeowners and boaters use this channel to access Lake Michigan. There’s also a mile-long public boardwalk with platforms and public access available for fishing and recreational activities.

Maintaining the Complex’s Features

We plan to keep these recreation features a priority as we plan for the complex’s retirement. We’re working with the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Department of Natural Resources to figure out a way to keep these features around.

Complex Retirement Timeline

2021 - 2024

The J.H. Campbell Complex will be prepared for full retirement.
2025 - 2026

The complex will officially go into retirement.
2026 and On

The complex will be demolished with a plan to restore the site over time.

Our Just Transition Process

We’re committed to a Just Transition for co-workers, communities and the planet while we’re leading Michigan’s clean energy transformation. Our Just Transition process ensures that as we transform over to clean energy, we protect those that are affected by the closure and removal of coal plants.

For employees, we’ll find new roles for those who want to stay. For communities, we’ll help local leaders pursue new economic futures while fulfilling our environmental responsibilities at the sites.

For proof that we’ll keep our promises, look no further than the progress made with the seven coal-fired units we retired in 2016. These are known as the “Classic Seven.” Closing these units was the first major step in our journey away from coal. From our Classic Seven experience, we created a three-step Just Transition process for the future:

Commit to fair and equal treatment of employees impacted by closures

Engage with the impacted communities and stakeholders to find a path forward

Put in solutions where we can

Our Transition Process

If you’d like to learn more about our Just Transition process, please click the button below.

See Our Process

The Future of the Complex

We’re currently working together with the community to talk about the future use of the Campbell site. It’s important for us to continue to commit to provide clean and affordable energy in Michigan, so our plans of the site will incorporate our mission. This includes making sure we meet Michigan’s energy needs in the future.

We plan to support the employees and communities affected by complex’s retirement by finding new roles for those who want to stay, helping local leaders pursue new economic futures and fulfilling our environmental responsibilities at the site.

Do You Have Questions?

If you have any questions about the J.H. Campbell Complex retirement, please email us at POBoxJHCampbellRetirement@cmsenergy.com.

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