Consumers Energy makes agreements with developers of renewable energy

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.

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.

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.

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