Coal

Once King of the Grid, Coal Plants Make Way for Renewables

Coal plants have historically been the backbone of our energy supply. For decades, we’ve counted on a dozen around the state to produce a consistent flow of electricity to fuel your home and Michigan’s economy. They’ve earned numerous awards recognizing reliability, safety and environmental stewardship. But the world is changing. More and more people want their energy to come from renewable sources. So we’re shifting to cleaner energy sources as part of our commitment to build a sustainable future for you and the environment we share.

The remaining five coal plants have been equipped with sophisticated air quality technology and they use low-sulfur coal to reduce emissions. They’re significantly cleaner. We still need these workhorses to meet the electricity demands of your family and Michigan businesses. Having a diverse fuel mix is also important to keep your bills lower and energy value high.

7

The number of coal-fired plants we retired in 2016.

25%

How much we reduced our carbon footprint by closing our oldest coal-fired plants.

40%

The amount of airborne particulates we cut by closing the plants. These include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulates.

40%

The amount of water use we reduced by retiring the plants.

1

Only one other utility in the nation is moving more aggressively to replace coal-fired generating plants with sustainable alternatives.

Continuous Improvements

A reliable electric system requires constant vigilance. We’re always making repairs and upgrades to strengthen the electric grid.

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