Consumers Energy is partnering with Calgary-based Ashcor to extract and repurpose millions of tons of coal ash from the soon-to-be-retired J.H. Campbell Generating Complex in Port Sheldon Township and turn that ash into a cement substitute used in concrete manufacturing.
“It’s very important for us to take responsibility for all our sites in Michigan as we transition away from coal as a fuel source to more renewables.”
Linda Hilbert is Executive Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability with Consumers. She explains how Ashcor’s process works.
“So, the idea is to extract that coal ash and heat it in a process that ultimately will meet their specifications so that it can sell it to a company like Portland Cement to use it in the cement manufacturing process.”
The Campbell complex began generating electricity by burning coal in the 1960’s. The process created coal ash, which has been stored in a landfill on the southern part of the 2,000-acre site. Once the complex is retired in May of this year, Ashcor will build a reclamation facility to remove the coal ash and transform it into the new cement product.
“If the market is large enough, this is certainly something that we could consider doing at some of our other sites.”
Operations will begin on or before January 1st, 2027, and the project is expected to last about 20 years.
