Consumers Energy Reaches Purchase Agreements for 240 Megawatts of New Michigan-Based Renewable Energy

JACKSON, Mich., June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy has reached power purchase agreements with independent developers for more than 240 megawatts of new Michigan-based renewable energy capacity.

The agreements support Consumers Energy's Balanced Energy Initiative which is a comprehensive 20-year plan to meet the needs of its 1.8 million electric customers with a balanced energy portfolio, including energy efficiency, renewable energy and customer demand management.

"Consumers Energy's agreements to purchase power from four new renewable energy projects in Michigan are another step forward to a clean energy economy," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.  "These projects will help power Michigan homes and businesses, build markets for our growing wind manufacturing industry and create jobs."

The power purchase agreements are for 20 years and have been submitted for approval to the Michigan Public Service Commission.  The new renewable energy projects are:

• John Deere Wind Energy, based in Johnston, Iowa, will develop its Michigan Wind 2 farm in Sanilac County.  This wind project will provide 90 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in 2012.
• John Deere Wind Energy will develop its Harvest II Windfarm project in Huron County.  This wind project will provide 59.4 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in late 2012.
• John Deere Wind Energy and Great Lakes Wind, LLC, will develop their Blissfield Wind Energy project in Lenawee County.  This wind project will provide 81 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in late 2012.
• Waste Management Renewable Energy, based in Houston, will develop an additional landfill gas electric generation facility at its Pine Tree Acres landfill near Richmond in Lenox Township, Macomb County.  The project will provide 12.8 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy beginning in 2012.

"Consumers Energy is pleased to continue its progress on a balanced energy supply by adding more renewable energy capacity to our portfolio.  These projects create positive local economic benefits, including jobs.  We will continue to work with the Michigan Public Service Commission on moving forward with a balanced energy supply to serve our customers and benefit the environment," said John Russell, president and chief executive officer of Consumers Energy.  

The power purchase agreements support Consumers Energy's plan to increase its renewable energy supply portfolio to 10 percent by 2015 to meet the requirements of Michigan's energy reform law.  

Consumers Energy is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Michigan.  More than 4 percent of the power that Consumers Energy supplies to customers comes from renewable sources based in the state.  Energy from the four new projects will bring the total expected supply from renewable sources to over 6.2 percent of Consumers Energy's retail electric sales.

Once ready for construction, the new wind projects are each expected to create between 150 and 200 construction jobs.  

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to more than six million of the state's nearly 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