Consumers Energy Unveils 20-Year Plan with 1.5GW Gas Plants and 13GW Renewables
Consumers Energy’s 20-year resource plan allocates over 13 GW of solar, wind and battery storage and adds two natural gas plants totaling 1.5 GW at repurposed Karn and Thetford sites. The proposal forecasts thousands of construction jobs, hundreds of permanent positions and nearly $19 billion in new local tax revenue.
1. Integrated Resource Plan Details
Consumers Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan covers the next 20 years, targeting over 13 GW of expanded solar, wind and battery storage capacity. The plan includes two new natural gas plants totaling 1.5 GW to supply fast-starting, on-demand power alongside clean energy resources.
2. Site Repurposing and Reliability
The two gas plants will be built on existing industrial sites at the Karn Generating Facility in Bay County and Thetford Township in Genesee County, leveraging current grid infrastructure. This approach minimizes land impact and enhances system reliability by providing low-cost, on-demand generation.
3. Economic and Workforce Benefits
Implementation will create thousands of construction roles and hundreds of permanent positions across natural gas, wind and solar projects. The plan’s investments are projected to boost local tax revenues by nearly $19 billion, strengthening county budgets and public services.
4. Clean Energy Commitments and Savings
Alongside new generation, the plan advances compliance with the 2023 energy law through continued additions of renewables and storage. Existing customer programs have saved $8.5 billion since 2009 and are expected to deliver $18 billion in savings by 2050 by incentivizing energy efficiency and leveraging lowest-cost resources.