America’s power strategy is being rewritten in real time. Coal is getting a stay of execution, nuclear is becoming a centerpiece of Trump-era industrial policy, and solar is caught in a trans-Pacific trade war. It’s a high-voltage moment for U.S. energy—where emergency orders, executive ambition, and global trade collide. This is GridBrief.

DOE Halts Michigan Coal Plant Shutdown Over Summer Outage Fears

In an unusual move, the Department of Energy issued an emergency order delaying the closure of Consumers Energy’s 1.6 GW J.H. Campbell coal plant in West Olive, Michigan, citing grid reliability concerns in MISO ahead of peak summer demand.

• The plant was scheduled to shut down May 31. It will now operate until August 21.

• DOE cited NERC’s Summer Reliability Assessment and MISO’s latest capacity auction as indicators of elevated outage risk.

• DOE acted unilaterally—without a formal request from the utility or MISO—marking a break from historical precedent.

Why this matters:
This is the 17th time DOE has used its Federal Power Act Section 202(c) authority since 2020—but the first under a preemptive “energy emergency” declared by President Trump earlier this year. With grid stress building and renewables still scaling, the administration is signaling that dispatchable generation—coal included—is back on the table.

Pushback:
Public Citizen plans to challenge the move at FERC, calling it an abuse of emergency powers and a backdoor subsidy to fossil assets. But Consumers says it will comply and pause decommissioning efforts, while seeking cost recovery in line with the DOE order.

Trump Administration Sets 400 GW Nuclear Target, Orders 10 Reactors by 2030

President Trump signed an executive order calling for 300 GW of net new nuclear capacity by 2050—raising the total U.S. fleet to 400 GW—and fast-tracking construction of 10 large reactors by 2030.

• The orders also push for accelerated NRC reviews, recycled fuel development, and expanded roles for DOE and DOD in licensing and siting.

• Trump’s team wants to prioritize projects powering AI infrastructure, with a HALEU fuel bank and incentives for modular and advanced designs.

• Shares of Oklo, NuScale, and uranium suppliers surged more than 20% after the announcement.

Context:
The orders double down on a national security and industrial policy framing for nuclear, using phrases like “reinvigorate the nuclear base” and “protect AI leadership.” This isn't just energy—it’s strategic autonomy, supply chain resiliency, and soft power.

The rub:
Nuclear advocates cheered the vision but warned that ongoing staff and budget cuts at DOE and NRC may undercut implementation. Critics, including Union of Concerned Scientists, blasted the plan as a safety risk, citing potential regulatory fragmentation.

U.S. Clears Path for Tariffs on Southeast Asian Solar Imports

The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that solar imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam materially harm domestic manufacturers—clearing the way for updated tariffs as high as 3,400%.

• Commerce already found major subsidy and dumping violations; final tariff orders are expected June 9.

• These new duties are on top of Trump’s 10% base tariff for solar, creating a tariff stack.

• The case was brought by a coalition of U.S. solar manufacturers, including First Solar and Qcells.

Why it matters:
This accelerates the decoupling of the U.S. solar supply chain from Southeast Asia, where Chinese firms had offshored to avoid earlier tariffs. While domestic producers celebrated, the broader solar industry—represented by SEIA—warned the move will raise project costs and stall deployment.

Bottom line:
The Biden-era playbook of carrot-heavy solar expansion is being replaced with a stick-first industrial policy. The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits are now the only thing standing between U.S. solar buildout and a price cliff.

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Conversation Starters

• Bloomberg – Transformer Shortage Chokes the Grid
  The global shortage of large transformers is slowing down grid modernization—right as demand surges from AI, EVs, and heat pumps. Expect lead times of 2+ years and prices to rise accordingly.

• Power Technology – Syria’s $7B Power Deal
  Syria just inked a $7B agreement with Qatar’s UCC Holding for 4 GW of gas generation and 1 GW of solar. The deal is as much about geopolitical realignment as grid restoration.

• Reuters – NuScale’s 77 MW SMR Gets NRC Approval
  NuScale just cleared a major hurdle with NRC approval of its upsized 77 MW SMR design. The company still faces challenges after its Utah deal collapsed, but this puts it back in the hunt.

Good Bet, Bad Bet

Good Bet: NuScale Power (SMR.N)
With NRC approval of its larger 77 MW design arriving two months ahead of schedule—and investor interest returning amid Trump’s pro-nuclear blitz—NuScale has a rare window to regain momentum. If it can secure a buyer and stay cost-disciplined, it may be the first SMR to go commercial in the U.S.

Bad Bet: Public Citizen’s Legal Challenge
FERC may entertain the argument, but the political winds have shifted. The DOE’s expanded use of 202(c) authority is now backstopped by a formal “energy emergency” declaration. Expect courts to give deference, and Public Citizen to take a symbolic L.

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