7 Coal Plants Retire

As an important part of our transition to clean energy sources, and commitment to build a sustainable future for our company, the people of Michigan and the environment we share, we retired our seven oldest coal-fired generating plants on April 15, 2016.  Retiring these plants will result in a 25% reduction in our carbon footprint, a 40% reduction in air borne sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates, and will reduce our statewide water use by 40%. Only one other utility in the nation is moving more aggressively to replace coal fired generating plants with sustainable alternatives.

These plants, which we call the “Classic Seven”, have provided Michigan with up to 950 megawatts of affordable and reliable electricity for more than 75 years. The seven plants include:

• Two generating units at the B.C. Cobb Plant in Muskegon.
• Three generating units at the J.R. Whiting Plant in and near Luna Pier.
• Two generating units at the Karn-Weadock Plant near Bay City.

Even though saying goodbye to these plants is an important step toward making our air the cleanest it has been in a generation, it presents challenges for us, our employees and the communities the plants have served. We value the historic contributions of the plants and the people who’ve worked there. Our ongoing efforts to help the people and communities impacted by the retired plants include:

• Helping employees maintain a role with the company.
• Working with impacted communities to transition to new site uses and economic opportunities, including:


• Working to help the Port of Muskegon remain prosperous.
• Bringing together community, policy and business leaders from the city of Luna Pier and Monroe County for a stakeholder process aimed at creating jobs and tax revenue development opportunities.
• Continuing to run four generating units at the Karn Plant in the Karn-Weadock Generating Complex to supply jobs and tax revenue to the local economy.