Consumers Energy, State of Michigan plan to power more than 1,200 public buildings with 100 percent clean energy

Clean power is coming to 1,274 publicly owned government buildings in Michigan, following an agreement reached between the state and Consumers Energy this week.

For 20 years, Consumers will power these buildings exclusively through clean energy – an arrangement of approximately 68 MW of renewable energy commitments. This followed commitments in the private sector earlier this year, wherein General Motors agreed to power three of its plants through 100 percent green energy from Consumers.

“Consumers Energy and the State of Michigan are working together to power Michigan’s clean energy transformation,” Consumers Energy President and CEO Garrick Rochow said. “This commitment will accelerate our already industry-leading Clean Energy Plan to develop carbon-free energy sources here in Michigan.”

For its Clean Energy Plan, Consumers also intends to close all its coal-fired plants by 2025 and go fully carbon neutral by 2040. To address the state government’s needs, the company will add new solar power plants over the next three to four years.

“As governor, I am proud that the State of Michigan is leading by example to reduce greenhouse gases, protect the planet, and lower energy costs,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Today, we are proud to announce that Consumers Energy is joining BWL and DTE in an agreement with the State of Michigan to power state buildings with clean energy. This is a critical step that will help us reach the goal I proposed in 2020 to have all state buildings run on 100% clean, renewable energy by 2025. Let’s keep working together to fight climate change with common-sense steps that will lower taxpayer energy costs and ensure that state operations have the energy they need to succeed.”