Consumers Energy to purchase 300 MW of solar power from two Michigan projects in 2024

Through two agreements reached this week, Consumers Energy signaled its intention to add 300 MW of solar power to its Michigan operations in 2024.

As part of its larger Clean Energy Plan to increase renewable energy, eliminate coal usage by 2025 and reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040, Consumers announced it would make its new purchases from facilities to come in Genesee and Hillsdale Counties. This power would be purchased from Confluence Solar in Genesee and Heartwood Solar in Hillsdale. Both are currently under development by Ranger Power, which will continue to own and operate them after completion.

When complete, this arrangement should allow Consumers the capability to power approximately another 150,000 homes.

“Providing 300 megawatts of clean energy for our customers is a commitment to our planet, the people of Michigan and contributes to the prosperity of communities where solar projects are sited,” Timothy Sparks, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric grid integration, said. “We are pleased to reach this agreement with a valued partner that is helping us bring to life a vision to provide a clean energy transformation that benefits Michiganders, both current and future generations.”

By 2040, Consumers hopes to add 8,000 MW of utility-scale solar power, with 1,100 MW to be added by 2024. As in this case, a competitive bidding process will guide proceedings. It hopes to use the gains from this to avoid having to create any new, large fossil fuel power plants.

Both of the new agreements are pending review by the Michigan Public Service Commission.