Economic Impact on Michigan of Construction of Consumers Energy's New Clean Coal Power Plant Estimated at $1.2 Billion

    JACKSON, Mich., Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The direct and indirect
 statewide economic impact of construction of Consumers Energy's proposed
 new clean coal plant near Bay City is estimated at $1.2 billion over a
 seven-year period, according to a study prepared at the utility's request.
 
     Consumers Energy previously announced that as part of its Balanced
 Energy Initiative it selected its Karn/Weadock Generating Complex in
 Hampton Township as the site for construction of an 800-megawatt clean coal
 power plant. The new plant is part of the utility's Balanced Energy
 Initiative, which it has submitted for approval to the Michigan Public
 Service Commission.
 
     The economic impact study prepared by Development Research Partners
 lists the following economic benefits for Michigan and the Tri-County area
 (Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties) during the seven-year construction
 period of the new power plant:
 
 

     -- Total construction jobs of 1,800 at peak;
     -- Statewide direct and indirect impact of approximately $1.2 billion;
     -- This includes Tri-County direct and indirect impact of nearly $500
        million.
     The report also shows a direct and indirect impact of more than $67
 million on a statewide basis in a typical year once the plant enters
 operation. This includes a Tri-County impact on a direct and indirect
 annual basis of more than $45 million. The new plant is expected to add at
 least 80 new employees to the existing workforce of 370 employees now
 employed at the Karn/Weadock Generating Complex.
 
     Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy ( CMS),
 provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10
 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
 
     For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at
 www.consumersenergy.com
 
 
 

SOURCE Consumers Energy