Consumers Energy to Buy Renewable Energy From Fremont Community Digester; Another Sign That Michigan's Energy Law Is Working -- Driving Investment in the State

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Jun 24, 2011, 03:30 ET

FREMONT, Mich., June 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy has contracted to purchase the total renewable energy output produced by the Fremont Community Digester (FCD), which held a ground breaking ceremony today in Fremont.

"This is the first time that Consumers Energy will be buying renewable energy from fuel produced by processed food waste. This innovative facility is another sign that Michigan's energy reform law is working by driving investment in renewable energy projects," said David Ronk, the utility's director of transactions and resource planning.

The $22 million digester and electric generator is being built by NOVI Energy, Indus Energy and North Central Cooperative, and is expected to begin commercial operation in the summer of 2012. Agricultural waste products for the FCD will be supplied by Gerber Products, Fremont Cooperative Produce Company and other area agricultural companies.

Consumers Energy will purchase approximately 380,000 megawatt-hours (MWh), or 19,000 MWh per year, of electricity from the FCD over the next 20 years at a cost of $55 million. The FCD's electric output is estimated at 3.1 megawatts.

Consumers Energy is moving forward with its renewable energy plan to have 10 percent of the power provided to its 1.8 million customers by 2015 come from Michigan renewable energy projects, as required by the state's energy reform law. Consumers Energy is Michigan's leading supplier of renewable energy. Currently, about 5 percent of the electricity supplied to the utility's customers comes from renewable sources.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy