JACKSON - In a Wednesday June 23 conference call and press release, Consumers Energy announced their plan to discontinue using coal as an electricity source, by as early as 2025. This is far ahead of current/previous plans, which did not forecast the move until approximately 2040.

Consumers hopes the plan will allow them to use 90 percent clean energy sources by 2040. To do so, they aim to build nearly 8,000 megawatts of solar energy around the state, and would also include the closure of three coal-fired units at the Campbell energy generating complex near Holland by 2025.

Consumers projects that the move will save customers approximately $650 million through 2040, and would keep the company on track to produce zero net carbon emissions.

On the conference call, senior vice president for governmental, regulatory and public affairs for Consumers Brandon Hofmeister said, “Consumers Energy is committed to a just transition away from coal as a fuel source for electricity...fulfilling our environmental responsibilities...and helping local leaders pursue new economic possibilities.”

The plan also includes the purchase of four existing natural gas power plants throughout the state, adding to Consumers current natural-gas fired power plants in Zeeland and Jackson.

Consumers President/CEO Garrick Rochow was also present, and said “We are proud to lead Michigan’s clean energy transformation and be one of the first utilities in the country to end coal use.”

The conference call in its entirety can be found in the link below.