Utility-scale solar field to replace Consumers Energy’s old coal units

ESSEXVILLE, MI – Consumers Energy will replace its old coal-burning power plant with a large-scale renewable solar array.

Consumers officials said on Wednesday, Oct. 4, that the utility intends to build an 85-megawatt solar array at the former Karn 1 and 2 coal facilities, which closed down in June this year. The project will be part of the company’s clean energy transition.

David Hicks, vice president of clean energy development for Consumers, said top among the company’s thoughts when closing the coal-burning units was what the site would become afterward.

“Based on future use studies and input from local stakeholders, solar emerged as the best option to ensure we continue to be good stewards of the land and to provide valuable tax dollars for the community while pushing us further toward our sustainability goals,” Hicks said in a statement.

The new solar project remains in the design phase, but the expectation is the effort could provide enough electricity for about 20,000 homes and pay millions of dollars in taxes through the years.

Officials said they aim for the solar project to be generating power by 2026.

Consumers Energy has state-approved plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, shift its power generation away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels, and rapidly expand its renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

The company intends to entirely end its use of coal by 2025, which will come 15 years ahead of the utility’s initial plans. The utility’s goal is to generate more than half its electric capacity with renewable sources by 2040.

Related: Consumers Energy aims for smaller outages no longer than 24 hours in new reliability plan

The Michigan Public Service Commission only just reported its expectation that regulated utilities like Consumers Energy are on track to meet a 35% renewable energy benchmark set for 2025.

The regulatory agency said in its latest report that rate-regulated electricity providers had about 6,000 megawatts of renewable projects within Michigan by the end of last year. Based on utilities’ integrated resource plans, officials expect the state will have more than 8,000 megawatts of renewable energy in operation by the end of 2026.

This announcement of a major new solar array by Consumers Energy comes amid discussions in Lansing as lawmakers consider codifying Michigan’s climate plan, which may set a 60% renewable and 100% clean energy standard statewide.

The bills in the package being negotiated in both the state House and Senate are designed to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy costs for Michigan residents. The legislation would force regulated utilities off fossil fuels faster than planned and require heavy investment in energy efficiencies and reduced costs for lower-income households.

Michigan’s top utility regulator said he believes those clean energy goals are achievable.

“I continue to be optimistic that there’s a path and a path that would work well for Michigan, and that this is doable, even while maintaining reliability and affordability for customers,” said Dan Scripps, MPSC chairperson.

“But the details are important. And so, we’ll leave that to the Legislature as they need to deliberate.”

Renewable energy generation – such as solar – does not result in carbon emissions, which drive the greenhouse effect and cause global warming and the accelerating climate crisis.