Gratiot Wind Farms from CMS subsidiary, Consumers Energy, started operations contributing with 150 megawatts of clean power for the state of Michigan, the company announced this Monday.
Operational date was December 16, although the company announced it just yet. The complex has 60 turbines and a 150 MW capacity, which is enough to power 58,000 homes.
The project was acquired by Consumers Energy from Enel Green Power, and committed to complete its construction in September 2019.
It was a $260 million investment; it joints two other wind farms in the state: the Lake Winds Energy Park in Mason county; and Cross Winds Energy Park in Tuscola county, which are also operated by Consumers.
With the combined capacity of the three complexes, Consumers Energy produces enough clean power to supply to 185,600 residents. “We are committed to be good neighbors in Gratiot County; our project is providing substantial local tax revenue and well-paying jobs,” said Dennis Dobbs, vice president of enterprise project management of Consumers.
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Gratiot Wind, important for Michigan
About its participation on Michigan’s economy, the company highlights that “Approximately 250 workers were employed during the construction of Gratiot Wind Farms. A team of 10 highly trained full-time employees will operate the electric generation facility from a newly established service center in Middleton, Michigan, scheduled to be completed by late February.”
The start of operations of Gratiot Wind Farms represents a further step in the company’s goal to go net-zero carbon emissions; and meeting the 90% of its customer’s needs via renewable energy. “Each kilowatt we generate from renewable sources such as the wind gets us closer to our Clean Energy Plan goal of a net-zero carbon energy future,” concluded Dobbs.
Consumers energy is one of the biggest energy providers for Michigan. Just recently, the company completed its Midstream project: the Saginaw Trail Pipeline. As we reported previously, the massive project saw the 78-mile Saginaw pipeline, built in the 1940’s, replaced and modernized with 90-mile of new, larger and safer pipeline.
The whole project was part of Consumers’ Natural Gas Delivery Plan, which sets a 10-year roadmap to build safer, cleaner, more reliable and affordable natural gas network for the state.
