An expansion of Consumers Energy’s Zeeland natural gas plant in Ottawa County is expected to be completed mid-June, before summer’s peak season.
“The Zeeland site has four gas turbines and one steam turbine, and this upgrade is a new combustion system that upgrades from about a 24-year-old technology to new technology. What it really does it just gives us better performance at the high end.”
Vice President of Generation Operations Norm Kapala says the Zeeland plant is an investment in more reliable, efficient energy.
“These are big investments that last for decades, but our customers will get the immediate benefit of these investments on Day One.
The natural gas plant upgrade comes as the company phases out its coal-powered J.H. Campbell plant, despite a last-ditch effort from county leaders to keep it open.
“Everything that we’re doing, it’s to just safely and affordably power Michigan. This is our collaboration with the state, what we're doing to retire coal, to have the right assets so that we're there on the hottest days in the summer and the coldest days of the winter to provide the energy that our customers expect.”
The J.H. Campbell plant will close by the end of this month.
