Consumers Energy begins operations at 1,200 MW natural gas-fired Covert Generating Station

After purchasing the 1,200 MW natural gas-fired Covert Power Plant in Michigan’s Van Buren County, Consumers Energy announced that, as of last week, it was handling operations there.

The plant has been in operation since 2004, and with its purchase, Consumers expects to add its 29 existing employees and a sizable amount of reliable power generation to its mix without creating additional greenhouse gas emissions. This will benefit the utility’s overall Clean Energy Plan and, at its current capabilities, the utility noted that Covert is capable of powering more than 1 million Michigan homes.

“Consumers Energy is doing its part to ensure a cost-effective, reliable energy generation supply to our customers and all of Michigan by welcoming the latest power plant into our generation fleet,” Tim Sparks, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric supply, said. “Covert will supply reliable electricity to meet Michigan’s needs 24/7 and support clean energy sources like wind and solar that we will continue to add.”

Earlier this year, Consumers asserted its readiness for the summer demand, and Covert will play a large role in that, joining two other natural gas plants in Zeeland and Jackson, Michigan to provide consistency on the grid. However, the company owns much more than those three natural gas plants.

As of now, the company – Michigan’s largest energy provider – maintains that more than 60 percent of its power will come from renewable energy by 2040. Consumers is actively working to close its coal-burning power plants by mid-2025, while maintaining operations at three solar power plants, four wind parks, 13 hydroelectric dams and the 1,872 MW Ludington Pumped Storage plant, as well as purchasing electricity from 10 third party-owned wind parks and another 34 third party-owned solar power plants.