Consumers Energy 'Leaving it Better' with Statewide Sustainability Efforts

Projects to reduce water usage at power plants by 20 percent

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Apr 21, 2014, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As the country celebrates Earth Day on Tuesday, Consumers Energy is reducing its environmental footprint through a series of sustainability efforts focused at its generating plants across Michigan.

By 2017, Consumers Energy expects to reduce water usage at its power plants by 17 percent and by 20 percent in 2020.

At the D.E. Karn Plant near Bay City, a project is nearing completion to use recycled water and lime while also improving the environment. This system reflects industry-best standards for the treatment of the plant's flue gas to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

"This project is an excellent example of Consumers Energy's focus on sustainability and our promise to leave it better than we found it," said Douglas Tamboer, the company's sustainability director.

The system will be operational this summer. If it proves successful, a similar system will be considered at the J.H. Campbell Generating Complex near West Olive.

Meanwhile more than $700 million in investments at the Campbell site continue to improve air quality and reduce plant emissions. Multi-year projects are scheduled to be complete in 2016.

"Our air is the cleanest it's been in a generation," said Linda Hilbert, manager of environmental services for Consumers Energy. "Our 10-year, $1.3 billion investment in emissions reduction work at Campbell and Karn coupled with other sustainability measures will mean an even brighter future for Michigan's environment."

Consumers Energy is also undertaking additional activities to further reduce its greenhouse gas footprint, including:

The planned retirement in April 2016 of seven smaller coal-fired generating units; The planned purchase of a natural gas-fired plant in Jackson;
Plug-in electric vehicle programs;
A compressed natural gas fueling station and fleet conversions;
Natural gas pipeline and storage infrastructure upgrades;
All new buildings being LEED certified;
Electric grid modernization efforts, including smart meters.

"Working to deliver the energy you need, whenever you need it is our Promise to Michigan," Tamboer said. "Fulfilling this Promise through environmental stewardship is essential."

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.5 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, go to: www.ConsumersEnergy.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan

SOURCE Consumers Energy