The Future of Hydroelectric in Michigan
Powering the Future, Preserving the Past
Consumers Energy to Sell 13 Hydroelectric Dams to Confluence Hydro, Keeping Dams in Safe Operation, Preserving Reservoirs and Working with Local Communities
Consumers Energy’s 13 Hydro Locations
Consumers Energy has signed a purchase agreement with Confluence Hydro, a subsidiary of Hull Street Energy, to sell its 13 hydroelectric dams along five Michigan rivers. The decision will reduce long-term costs for Consumers Energy customers while ensuring the dams will continue to provide economic and recreational benefits for nearby communities.
Learn More About The Agreement
Meetings in Your Community
Community conversations about the future of Consumers Energy’s dams are coming! We invite you to attend and learn more about the sale of our dams to Confluence Hydro. All meetings are 6-7:30 p.m. Details about six meetings are below.
- Nov. 19 – Calkins Bridge Dam, Allegan High School, 1560 M-40, Allegan, MI 49010
- Nov. 20 – Weber Dam. Muir Village Office, 122 Superior St., Muir, MI 48860
- Dec. 1 – Alcona and Mio Dams, Mio High School, 1110 8th St., Mio, MI 48647
- Dec. 2 – Foote, Cooke, Loud, and Five Channel Dams, Shoreline Players Theatre, 6000 N. Skeel Ave., Oscoda, MI 48750
- Dec. 15 – Hodenpyl and Tippy Dams, Crystal Mountain Resort, 12500 Crystal Mountain Drive, Thompsonville MI 49683
- Dec. 16 – Hardy, Croton and Rogers Dams, Eisler Center, Ferris State University, 805 Campus Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307
- August 2022: Announced plans for 13 hydros and held community meetings
- December 2022: Completed economic impact study of the 13 hydros
- January 2024: Community Prosperity Meeting
- February 2024: Sale of 13 Hydros RFP Announcement
- October 2024: Community Prosperity Meeting
- September 2025: Sale of Hydro Announcement
Planning for the Future of River Hydro Communities
Locally Led Planning Groups
We need to continue talking about the future of our hydro plants. So we’ve developed seven local stakeholder groups. Each group will develop priorities for two scenarios. One if the dam is relicensed. A second plan if Consumers Energy exits the hydro business.
This will continue the conversations we’ve had through local meetings and surveys over the past few years. Each group was created by community-based organizations. We will collaborate with them to promote local prosperity and honor our long-term commitment to the communities around our river- based dams.
These groups began meeting in early 2024.
Alcona Dam Economic Impact Study
Calkins Bridge Dam Economic Impact Study
Cooke Dam Economic Impact Study
Croton Dam Economic Impact Study
Five Channels Dam Economic Impact Study
Foote Dam Economic Impact Study
Hardy Dam Economic Impact Study
Hodenpyl Dam Economic Impact Study
Loud Dam Economic Impact Study
Rogers Dam Economic Impact Study
Kalamazoo River Calkins Bridge Group 11/12/24 Meeting Summary
Muskegon River Group 11/1/24 Meeting Summary
Manistee River Group 10/28/24 Meeting Summary
Upper Au Sable River Group 10/23/24 Meeting Summary
Middle Au Sable River Group 10/23/24 Meeting Summary
Grand River Webber Group 10/8/24 Meeting Summary
Upper Au Sable River Group 9/18/24 Meeting Summary
Lower Au Sable River Group 9/17/24 Meeting Summary
Grand River Webber Group 9/10/24 Meeting Summary
Muskegon River Group 9/4/24 Meeting Summary
Kalamazoo River Calkins Bridge Group 8/28/24 Meeting Summary
Presentation on Bats of the Hibernaculum at Tippy Dam 6/25/24
Mio Dam Local Prosperity Group Meeting #2
Boardman/Ottaway River Decommissioning Presentation Summary
Middle Au Sable River Group 6/27/24 Meeting Summary
Lower Au Sable River Group 6/25/24 Meeting Summary
Kalamazoo River Calkins Bridge Group 6/18/24 Meeting Summary
Grand River Webber Group 6/11/24 Meeting Summary
Muskegon River Group 6/6/24 Meeting Summary
Manistee River Group 6/3/24 Meeting Summary
Grand River Group 4/5/24 Meeting Summary
Kalamazoo River Calkins Bridge Group 4/25/24 Meeting Summary
Manistee River Group 4/8/24 Meeting Summary
Muskegon River Group 4/19/24 Meeting Summary
Upper Au Sable River Group 4/15/24 Meeting Summary
Middle Au Sable River Group 4/17/24 Meeting Summary
Lower Au Sable River Group 4/15/24 Meeting Summary
Calkins Bridge Dam
Calkins Bridge Dam Economic Contribution Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
River Hydro Community Engagement Report
Calkins Dam Meeting Presentation
Croton and Hardy Dams
Croton Hardy Meeting Presentation
River Hydro Community Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Croton Dam Economic Contribution Report
Hardy Dam Pond Economic Contribution Report
Webber Dam
Webber Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Webber Dam Economic Contribution Report
Alcona Dam
Alcona Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Alcona Dam Economic Contribution Report
Loud and Five Channel Dams
Loud Five Channels Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Loud Dam Economic Contribution Report
Five Channels Economic Contribution Report
Rogers Dam
Rogers Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Rogers Dam Economic Contribution Report
Cooke and Foote Dam
Foote/Cooke Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Foote Dam Economic Contribution Report
Cooke Dam Economic Contribution Report
Mio Dam
Mio Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Mio Dam Economic Contribution Report
Tippy Dam
Tippy Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Tippy Dam Economic Contribution Report
Hodenpyl Dam
Hodenpyl Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Hodenpyl Dam Economic Contribution Report
Virtual Meeting One
Virtual Meeting One Meeting Recording
September 12 Virtual Meeting Presentation
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
River Hydro Community Engagement Report
Virtual Meeting Two
Virtual Meeting Two Meeting Recording
Virtual Meeting Presentation
PSC River Hydro Engagement Report
Statewide Economic Contribution Analysis
Hardy Dam
Hardy Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Hardy Dam Map
Calkins Bridge Dam
Calkins Bridge Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Calkins Bridge Dam Map
Croton Dam
Croton Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Croton Dam Map
Webber Dam
Webber Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Webber Dam Map
Rogers Dam
Rogers Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Rogers Dam Map
Mio Dam
Mio Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Mio Dam Map
Foote Dam
Foote Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Foote Dam Map
Cooke Dam
Cooke Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Cooke Dam Map
Tippy Dam
Tippy Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Tippy Dam Map
Hodenpyl Dam
Hodenpyl Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Hodenpyl Dam Map
Alcona Dam
Alcona Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Alcona Dam Map
Loud Dam
Loud Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Loud Dam Map
Five Channels Dam
Five Channels Dam Pre-Meeting Slides
Materials Presented at the Meeting
Five Channels Dam Map
Federal and State Oversight
Everyone that is involved in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing process is acutely aware of how final decisions will impact river hydro communities. We are committed to holding intentional interactions with all regulatory stakeholders in this process, including the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, to advocate for the most positive outcomes for customers and other residents in these valued river hydro communities.