A typical John Deere windmill installation in a rural area. Consumers Energy Recent Deals to Surpass Entire State Present Wind Output
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Consumers Energy has signed power purchase agreements (PPAs) for three wind farms totaling 230.4 megawatts (MW) - more than the state's total installed wind capacity.
Once ready for construction, the new wind projects are each expected to create between 150 and 200 construction jobs.
According to Windpower Monthly, the utility signed agreements with John Deere Wind Energy for the 90MW Michigan Wind 2 facility in Sanilac County and the 59.4MW Harvest II wind farm in Huron County.
It also signed a joint PPA with John Deere and Great Lakes Wind, LLC for their 81MW Blissfield Wind Energy project in Lenawee County. All of the PPAs are for 20 years, while the projects are due to come online in 2012.
Michigan currently has 143.4MW of wind, of which Deere has built 52.8MW.
Consumers Energy, which provides electricity and natural gas to six million of Michigan's ten million residents, also signed a PPA for a 12.8MW landfill gas project.
The utility must derive 10 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 to comply with Michigan's renewable energy standard.
Consumers says that currently 4 percent of its electricity sales come from renewables. The four contracted projects will raise that to over 6.2 percent. The PPAs must be approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Earlier this year Goldman Sachs said it was reviewing the options for John Deere's $1 billion wind portfolio, including a possible sell-off.
Consumers Energy's recent deal for power purchase agreements with independent developers involve two sites in Michigan's Thumb region that have been in the works for years, according to a Deere official.
Deere's Angela Gallagher said the Michigan Wind 2 project, in the Minden City area, will involve about 50 turbines designed to generate 90MW.
Harvest II, in Huron County, will provide 59.4MW of renewable energy capacity, and will be located north and south of the Harvest Wind I project in Chandler and Oliver townships, Ms. Gallagher said. Harvest II will have an estimated 33 turbines, she added.
"John Deere Renewables is currently planning the project and will be coordinating with the local township boards and the landowners," she said. The construction schedule has not been finalized.
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.
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.
Consumers Energy is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Michigan.
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. ###
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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers! |
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WALLWE Says:
On July 12, 2010
at 01:09 PM
I HAVE BEEN HIGHLY CRITICAL TOWARDS CONSUMERS FOR THEIR FOOT DRAGGING AND INSISTANCE ON PERPETUATING FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPEMENT .. I THINK I CAN BEGIN TO BREATH EASIER NOW. KNOWING THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS JOBS, CLEAN AIR AND FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN FREE OF FOREIGN DEPENDENCE ON OIL ETC..BRIGHTENS MY DAY A LOT. NOW LETS GET ON WITH CLEANER WATER ...
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Dave Rogers |
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