Consumers Energy to offer public tours of Campbell Complex as coal era nears end

Consumers Energy is set to offer the public a rare opportunity to tour its J.H. Campbell Complex in West Michigan next month, as the energy provider prepares to close its last coal-fired facility in mid-2025. 

The closure of the Ottawa County complex will mark a milestone in Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan, aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral energy grid by 2040.

The Campbell Complex, consisting of three units built between 1962 and 1980, has provided energy to Michigan residents for decades. However, the company will eliminate coal burning as part of its commitment to sustainability, making Consumers Energy one of the first U.S. utility providers to do so.

“We’re excited to give our friends and neighbors the opportunity to look inside Campbell as we make this major energy transition,” says Norm Kapala, vice president of generation operations at Consumers Energy. “Our Campbell Complex and the people who work here have faithfully served our state with reliable energy for generations. We want to provide an opportunity to understand and appreciate that legacy.”

The tours, scheduled for Sept. 21, will be conducted via bus and will last about one hour. Attendees will have the chance to go inside the complex and view the facility. Tours are free, but registration is required on a first-come, first-served basis.

Transition to cleaner energy

The planned closure of the Campbell Complex is part of Consumers Energy’s transition to a coal-free energy future. The company has already taken significant steps toward this goal, including the purchase and operation of the Covert Generating Station in Van Buren County, which compensates for much of the energy produced by the Campbell facility. Additionally, Consumers Energy is continuing to expand its clean energy projects, with the Muskegon Solar Energy Center slated to begin operations in 2026.

The company says it is committed to ensuring a just transition for its employees, offering job opportunities within the company. 

Post-demolition redevelopment of the site is planned for 2026 or later, in collaboration with community leaders.

“We will be busy the next nine months as we continue to operate Campbell right up until it closes,” Kapala says. “We’re committed to a useful future for this property, but not before we take the time to reflect on the complex’s important work serving Michigan.”

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, delivering natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million residents across the state. The company’s Clean Energy Plan includes eliminating coal as an energy source by 2025, achieving net-zero carbon emissions, and meeting 90% of customers’ energy needs through clean sources such as wind and solar.