Consumers Energy Unveils 20-Year Plan to Power Michigan with Solar, Wind, and Gas

Consumers Energy has unveiled its 20-year energy supply plan for Michigan, which combines natural gas, solar, wind, and battery storage to meet the state's rising energy needs. The company filed its proposal with the Michigan Public Service Commission on September 3, aiming to provide reliable and affordable energy while meeting the targets of Michigan's 2023 clean energy law.

According to Chris Fultz, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of electric supply, 'Michiganders count on us to power their lives 24/7/365. This plan takes an all-of-the-above approach that serves our state and customers today and ensures we have the energy supply for our state over the next two decades.'

The plan involves adding more than 19 gigawatts (GW) of solar, wind, and battery storage resources by 2040, supported by two new fast-starting natural gas plants with a combined generating capacity of 1.4 GW in Bay and Genesee counties.

Consumers Energy also announced contracts to purchase power from third-party sources, including a clean-resource contract intended to meet Michigan's clean energy standards and a new agreement to purchase power from a natural gas plant in Midland to support reliability needs.