According to Consumers Energy, Pine Gate Renewables, and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors L.P. five new solar energy projects in Genesee County, Michigan and three in Saginaw County, Michigan are now online, delivering renewable power to Consumers Energy customers.
"These solar systems going online are a testament to our commitment to solar energy in Michigan as a key part of the Clean Energy Plan, our blueprint for a carbon-free, climate-neutral future," said Tim Sparks, vice president of grid integration for Consumers Energy. "We thank Pine Gate Renewables for their shared belief in protecting our planet and for their expertise in building the vital infrastructure for clean energy."
The eight sites were built and operated by Pine Gate Renewables and owned by Kayne Anderson. Consumers Energy has 20 year contracts to get the energy from the projects. Each solar park has an output of 2 MW. Together, the solar parks produce up to 16 MW, thereby increasing Consumers Energy's 10 MW solar energy capacity that was previously available to customers.
The names of the local solar projects that have started operations in the past five weeks are Captain Solar, Interchange Solar, Jack Francis Solar, May Shannon Solar and Coldwater Solar in Genesee County, and Geddes 1 Solar, Geddes 2 Solar and Stoneheart Solar in Saginaw County. These first eight projects include 56,313 solar panels and have around 240 local workers involved in construction.
Consumers Energy's Clean Energy Plan aims to eliminate coal as an energy source, achieve zero carbon emissions and meet 90% of customers' energy needs from clean sources such as renewable energy, reducing energy waste and energy storage.
Consumers Energy has reached agreements to purchase power from six additional Kayne Anderson solar projects in other parts of Michigan due to start operations this month.
Photo: Energy energy plan for consumers