Supporting a New Generation of Power
Hampton Township, Michigan Clean Coal Plant Project
Consumers Energy plans to expand its Karn/Weadock Generating Complex near Bay City, Mich., by building a new 830-megawatt (MW) advanced supercritical pulverized clean coal power plant — equipped with the latest technology to control emissions — and have it in operation in 2017.learn more >
A Balanced Approach
Based on its Balanced Energy Initiative, Consumers Energy filed an analysis of electric generation needs and alternatives with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality as a part of the air permit process for the new clean coal plant. The strategy shows a balanced, diverse portfolio of energy resources—including a new, clean coal power plant—is needed to meet the future power demands of the company’s 1.8 million customers. A new advanced baseload power plant at the company’s Karn/Weadock Generating Complex is one piece of the solution, which also includes energy efficiency programs, demand side management, and expanded renewable energy capacity.
Reliable Power
Our Balanced Energy Initiative is based on the link between a clean environment, sustainable energy policy and a solid economy. Those are all crucial priorities for Michigan and our 1.8 million electric customers. The Balanced Energy Initiative is designed to provide Consumers Energy customers with reliable and affordable electricity in an environmentally responsible manner for the next two decades.
Consumers Energy is optimistic about the potential of renewable energy sources, such as wind, as well as energy efficiency measures. But the wind doesn’t always blow when customers need electricity. And it’s still not clear how much energy efficiency can reduce peak loads on hot summer days. That’s why Consumers Energy customers need the reliability of new baseload generation, the workhorse of the power system.
Jobs for Michigan
The new clean coal plant that Consumers Energy plans to build will provide significant economic development benefits for Michigan and the Great Lakes Bay Region. The new plant represents an investment of more than $2 billion in the state’s energy infrastructure.
The new plant is expected to create more than 1,800 direct and about 2,500 indirect jobs during construction. It also will create about 100 permanent jobs when the plant is operational.
Show your support for the need for the clean coal plant and the jobs it will create by writing to the governor and other public policy makers.