JACKSON, Mich., Nov. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy today announced agreements to add almost 400 megawatts of
clean energy – enough to power nearly 190,000 homes -- from three
Michigan solar projects in
southern central Michigan.
The solar developments are part of the company's Clean Energy
Plan to dramatically increase renewable energy, eliminate coal as a
fuel source for electricity by 2025 and achieve net zero carbon
emissions by 2040.
"Increasing clean energy for our customers shows our commitment
to being a force of change for clean energy that benefits the
people of Michigan and protects
our planet," said Dennis Dobbs,
Consumers Energy's vice president of enterprise project management
and environmental services. "Our partners in these projects are
helping us transform the energy landscape and create a cleaner
energy future for generations to come."
Under the agreements, which are awaiting approval by the
Michigan Public Service Commission, Consumers Energy would own and
operate one facility, while purchasing power from the other
two.
The new solar projects, which would come online in 2023,
include:
- The Washtenaw Solar Energy Project, a 150-megawatt project in
development to be built by Invenergy before ownership would be
transferred to Consumers Energy who will operate the facility near
Ann Arbor.
- Jackson Solar, a project
developed by National Grid Renewables, from which Consumers Energy
would buy 125 MW of electricity for 20 years from the facility,
planned for Jackson County near
Consumer Energy's headquarters.
- Cereal City Solar, a 100-MW project developed by NextEra.
Consumers Energy would buy electricity for 25 years from the
facility, planned in Calhoun
County near Marshall.
Under its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers Energy has proposed
adding 8,000 megawatts of utility-scale solar power by 2040,
including 1,100 MW by 2024. The company is using a competitive
bidding process to ensure maximum value for customers. In addition
to its environmental benefits, solar is increasingly cost
competitive and Consumers Energy can add it gradually to meet
Michigan's changing energy needs
without building a large, new fossil fuel power plant.
Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy
(NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8
million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties.
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Media
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SOURCE Consumers Energy