Environment
Our Plan: To Eliminate Coal Use and Reduce Carbon Emissions 90% by 2040
For us, loving Michigan means more than providing power. It means helping Michigan be its best by protecting the environment. Consumers Energy will be one of the first utilities in the nation to go coal-free by 2025. We will continue our fast transition to clean, renewable sources by adding nearly 8,000 MW of solar, a natural gas-fired plant, and 550 MW of energy storage.
To move forward with our progress to protect the environment and to minimize the impact of future regulations, we have set the following goals that we want to achieve from 2023 through 2027:
- to enhance, restore, or protect 6,500 acres of land through 2027; we have already enhanced, restored, or protected more than 2,000 acres of land towards this goal
- to reduce water use by 1.7 billion gallons through 2027; we have already reduced water use by more than 660 million gallons towards this goal
- to annually divert a minimum of 90% of waste from landfills (through waste reduction, recycling, and reuse); during 2023, our rate of waste diverted from landfills was 91%
These ambitious goals and achievements give us a rare opportunity to redefine Michigan's energy future. All while aligning with our strong track record of taking care of the environment that we live in.
Water
Here in the Great Lakes State, we love our lakes, rivers and streams. We’re beachgoers, anglers and stone skippers. We work to keep this precious resource thriving so you can enjoy our fresh and abundant waters for many seasons to come.
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Land
Call us nature lovers. Our foresters and arborists work to preserve and restore our lands. They protect the woods from invasive species and disease, ensuring their vitality. We’ve also planted acres of pollinator habitats across our lands. Many of lands are open for you to enjoy.
Air
You can smell seasons in Michigan. Spring smells like lilacs and apple blossoms and autumn smells like falling leaves. Clean air makes it possible to enjoy the scents of every season. We’re committed to cleaner air through our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint.
Waste Management
A cleaner state means reducing waste. We recycle, reduce waste and conserve. Our facilities maintain centralized waste-disposal systems so we can track what’s being thrown away. We also recycle soil and construction materials used on field projects.
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Environmental Management
Our environmental policy is a promise to keep our priorities in check. We’re committed to provide you with reliable energy while keeping our environment protected for generations to come. Read more about the ways we work to manage our environmental impact.
More About Our Environmental Management