Consumers Energy of Michigan gathers clean energy commitments from 16 major businesses

From Henry Ford Health and 7-11, a total of 16 businesses committed to using clean energy at their Michigan operations last week through the Consumers Energy Business Renewable Energy Program.

Under the Business Renewable Energy Program, businesses pledge to match the energy they use with wind and solar energy Consumers Energy develops in Michigan. Such commitments have equaled roughly 380 MW of emission-free renewable energy, the equivalent counterbalance to more than 85,000 cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

“Consumers Energy is powering Michigan’s clean energy transformation, and we’re doing it with employers who are catalysts to add clean energy sources,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Their promises are making positive change happen even faster and building on our industry-leading Clean Energy Plan to develop new carbon-free energy sources here in Michigan.”

The new participants range the length and breadth of the state’s two peninsulas, from Petoskey, Mich., to Detroit and on to Grand Rapids, Mich. Comcast, General Motors, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the state government represent examples of the diversity of participants, as well.

Consumers added that this would help support both companies’ sustainability goals and the local communities in which they operate.

“Increasing sustainability is key to improving public health and reducing health inequities, and it’s something Henry Ford Health prioritizes in our ongoing mission to transform the overall well-being of our community,” Robin Damschroder, executive vice president and Chief Financial & Business Development Officer for Henry Ford Health, said. “We are proud to take this sustainable step in the Jackson area and hope others join us in efforts like this.”