Consumers Energy joins net zero by 2050 pledge for its entire natural gas system

Consumers Energy – and its parent company, CMS Energy – this week announced the pursuit of a net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 pledge, under which it will attempt to zero out emissions from its entire natural gas production and delivery system.

In this, it joins a growing number of companies pursuing a similar pledge and, along the way, has set an additional milestone of 20 percent reduction in its customers’ emissions by 2030. Overall, the company will seek to eliminate the impact of emissions from natural gas burning by both its customers and suppliers who produce and transport gas to Consumers’ system.

“Natural gas is safe and affordable, and now it can be even more clean,” President and CEO Garrick Rochow said. “We’re making historic, industry-leading changes to protect our planet. This commitment is another step in leading the clean energy transformation for Michigan.”

These newly announced commitments will, according to CMS, push it into greater alignment with Michigan’s own Healthy Climate Plan and the recommendations of the larger-scale international Paris Agreement. Internally, CMS has already begun modernizing its natural gas system to progress toward net zero methane emissions by 2030, committed to reach net zero carbon emissions in its electric operations by 2040 by ending coal use and boosting renewable energy fuel sources, and pledges to provide power for 1 million electric vehicles by 2030. 

To further promote emissions reductions among its customers and suppliers, CMS is also pursuing several ventures:

• A new program – already approved by regulators – under which residential and business customers can offset carbon emissions from natural gas use by investing in projects that help Michigan forests reduce the amount of CO2 flooding the atmosphere;
• An agreement with Swisslane Farms of west Michigan to build a biodigester facility capable of converting agricultural waste into renewable natural gas (RNG) to reduce methane emissions;
• Energy efficiency and demand response programs to reduce energy waste while lowering bills; and
• Investigating hydrogen-based options for producing energy, carbon capture, and more.