Consumers Energy hastens clean energy transfer, pledging to end coal use by 2025

Published on June 25, 2021 by Chris Galford


Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /var/www/dailyenergyinsider.com/wp-content/themes/dei/single.php on line 31

Warning: Undefined variable $post_id in /var/www/dailyenergyinsider.com/wp-content/themes/dei/single.php on line 36
© Shutterstock

Consumers Energy announced this week that it intends to entirely end coal usage as a fuel source 15 years ahead of schedule in 2025, setting the company up to be one of the first in the country to go coal-free.

While still pending regulatory approval, the plan would also bring the company to several major milestones by 2040: 90 percent clean energy resources and the production of nearly 8,000 MW of solar energy in Michigan. All told, such actions could also save customers about $650 million through 2040 while pushing ever further toward net zero carbon emissions.

“We are proud to lead Michigan’s clean energy transformation and be one of the first utilities in the country to end coal use,” Garrick Rochow, president and CEO, said. “We are committed to being a force of change and good stewards of our environment, producing reliable, affordable energy for our customers while caring for our communities during this transition.”

As a direct result of the plan, the closure of the Campbell coal generating complex near Holland, Mich., would be sped up. Campbell 1 and 2, which provide more than 600 MW of electricity combined, would retire six years ahead of schedule in 2025. Campbell 3, which provides 840 MW, would retire that same year, reflecting an approximately 15-year early retirement. Further closures would follow with Karn 3 and 4 near Essexville, Michigan, which run on a mix of natural gas and fuel oil to provide more than 1,100 MW. Those would retire in 2023.

“Consumers Energy is committed to a just transition away from coal as a fuel source for electricity,” Brandon Hofmeister, Consumers senior vice president for governmental, regulatory and public affairs, said. “We supported employees and communities impacted by our 2016 coal retirements by finding new roles for workers who wanted to stay, fulfilling our environmental responsibilities at the sites, and helping local leaders pursue new economic possibilities. We plan to follow the same philosophy to help those affected by the proposed Campbell and Karn retirements.”

Not everything in the new plan is about closures, though. Consumers intends to continue ramping up solar production and to buy four existing natural gas-fired power plants in-state.