Take a deep breath and you know you’re in Michigan. The air is the cleanest it’s been in a generation. It’s easy to take for granted. Not us. We strive to do better.

 

In 2019, our Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – also known as our Clean Energy Plan, officially solidified our position as Michigan's leader in clean energy and placing us at the forefront of utilities nationwide. This plan focuses on reducing our carbon emissions by over 90 percent by 2040.

As part of a Consent Decree with the US EPA and the Department of Justice (Civil Action No. 14-13580, E.D. of Michigan), Consumers Energy is funding a wood burning appliance replacement program. Visit the Lower Peninsula of MI Woodstove Changeout Program website hosted by the American Lung Association for details.

To minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we’ve developed a voluntary, three-phase reduction target for carbon intensity ratio (CIR). CIR is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted through the production of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity. Working from a baseline of 2008, our goal is to have the plan fully implemented by 2025.

• 5% reduction by 2015
• 10% reduction by 2020
• 20% reduction by 2025

Cleaning the air involves a lot of stakeholders. We listened to many of them in public forums as we gathered input to create our Integrated Resource Plan for Michigan’s energy future – a plan that will result in the total elimination of coal-fired generating plants by the year 2040. You can read about our plan to replace coal generation with renewables here.

We’re always thinking about new ways to reduce our emissions footprint. Here’s a list of key activities that are already underway:

• Seven coal-fired power generating units were retired in 2016
• The proposed retirement of coal-fired units Karn 1 and 2
• A natural gas-fired plant has been added to our generating plant mix, which has a smaller carbon footprint than a coal-fired facility of the same size
• Energy efficiency programs are gaining momentum statewide
• More plug-in electric vehicles have been added to our fleets - Learn More
• A compressed natural gas fueling station has been added and vehicles converted
• Natural gas pipeline and storage infrastructure upgrades have been made and recognized with a Natural Gas Star Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Additional renewable energy sources should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 1 million tons annually by 2022

As part of a Consent Decree with the US EPA and the Department of Justice (Civil Action No. 14-13580, E.D. of Michigan), Consumers Energy is funding a wood burning appliance replacement program. Visit the Lower Peninsula of MI Woodstove Changeout Program website hosted by the American Lung Association for details.