NEWS: Utility regulators in red states are knocking the Trump administration’s emergency power plant orders.

What happened: During a recent MISO meeting, the chairs of the Iowa and South Dakota utility commissions criticized the DOE’s ongoing orders to delay fossil-fired plant retirements across the country. The two officials claimed that these moves have hindered grid planning and driven up customer bills, POLITICO reported.

Their takes: The DOE orders “add a level of chaos and uncertainty that just plain doesn't help the situation that we're in at the moment,” said Iowa Chair Sarah Martz. And MISO data shows that they aren’t necessary to maintain reliability, SD Chair Chris Nelson pointed out.

Zooming out: This DOE strategy is facing mounting legal opposition. In September, a federal appeals court overturned an emergency coal plant order in Michigan. And a US House bill introduced last month would ban the tactic altogether.