JACKSON,
Mich., Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers
Energy plans to break ground next spring on Blackman Solar, a new 30-acre community solar
array in its home Jackson County
that will provide local clean energy to customers through its Solar
Gardens program.
Consumers Energy this week received approval from Blackman Township for the community solar
project, which is slated to start generating electricity by the end
of 2025.
"Blackman Solar is a great
example of a partnership with a community to develop a project that
delivers reliable, clean energy as well as local tax and economic
benefits," said David Hicks.
Consumers Energy's vice president of renewable energy development.
"We're grateful for the reception we've received from Blackman Township leaders and are excited to
continue developing solar projects like this on our path to a
carbon-neutral electric grid."
Blackman Solar will generate
power for Consumers Energy's Solar Gardens community solar program,
in which customers choose to support new solar projects without
having to own solar arrays.
The new community solar facility will be the fourth that
Consumers Energy owns and operates, joining other Solar Gardens
projects in Cadillac, at Western Michigan
University and at Grand Valley State
University. Blackman Solar
will include nearly 5,000 solar panels and will generate up to 2.5
megawatts of renewable electricity for 2,500 future Solar Gardens
customers.
Blackman Solar also will provide
new capacity to expand Consumers Energy's income-qualified Solar
Gardens program MI Sunrise. MI Sunrise is an efficient, easy,
cost-effective way for municipalities, nonprofits and tribal
governments to deploy federal grant dollars, providing access to
clean, reliable renewable energy and measurable financial benefits
to offset energy bills.
"Blackman Solar will help meet
increased demand for community solar and offers shared solar
infrastructure, accessibility and inclusivity, as well as financial
and environmental benefits for all customers," Hicks said.
Consumers Energy is committed to Michigan's clean energy future. The energy
provider is closing its final three coal-burning units next summer,
one of the nation's most aggressive timetables. The company is
developing solar projects as part of its Clean Energy Plan to be
carbon-neutral by 2040.
Consumers Energy is Michigan's
largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity
to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower
Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy's Clean Energy Plan calls for
eliminating coal as an energy source in 2025, achieving net-zero
carbon emissions and meeting 90% of customers' energy needs through
clean sources, including wind and solar.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social
Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-energy-expanding-community-solar-program-with-30-acre-solar-project-in-jackson-county-302253354.html
SOURCE Consumers Energy