Consumers Energy will complete coal-fired power generation in three years and accelerate the construction of thousands of megawatts in solar fields as part of a settlement with a coalition of stakeholders being negotiated as part of a long-term electricity supply plan.
The Michigan Public Services Commission (MPSC) approved a settlement agreement on Thursday, June 23. Under the deal, Consumers will close all three coal-fired units in J.H. The Campbell plant in Ottawa County in 2025, accelerates the growth of battery energy storage and adds nearly 8,000 megawatts of solar energy over the next 17 years.
End of coal use in Michigan has a strong impact on national climate targets to become carbon neutral by 2050. Federal statistics show that electricity generation is responsible for 25% of total greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and more than 70% of industrial emissions in Michigan.
Environmentalists have celebrated news of a settlement that will allow Consumers to be among the first coal-fired utilities in the United States by 2025.
“Today’s approval is a powerful step toward the clean energy Michigan needs in the future, phasing out coal energy this decade, avoiding reliance on new fossil gas power plants and investing heavily in clean sources like the sun,” he said. James Gignac, senior for Midwest. an energy analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Margrethe Kearney, Senior Environmental Lawyer & amp; The Policy Center said one of the most exciting aspects of this settlement agreement is the recognition by public and state regulators of the role that distributed solar energy plays in a fair energy transition.
Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel we burn for energy – meaning it produces the most greenhouse gas emissions – and its historical use has made a major contribution to accelerating the global climate crisis. An international team of scientists recently noted that the rate of destruction due to climate change in the coming decades will depend on the degree to which people will reduce their carbon emissions in the coming years.
Consumers said the newly approved contract is not only good for the planet, but would also create price stability and help customers save an estimated $ 600 million by 2040 compared to the previous version of his plan.
The new 20-year integrated resource plan calls for replacing the company’s coal energy with natural gas and renewable energy sources. Company officials are looking for tens of thousands of acres of suitable land in Michigan to build extensive fields of solar panels to meet climate promises.
Thousands of megawatts are expected to hit the internet in the next few years, as the company will meet its 8,000 megawatt solar target by 2040.
“We are building a dramatically different energy landscape in which customers will not have to choose between protecting the planet and their pocketbooks. We will do both, while ensuring that our country has the reliable power it needs, ”said Garrick Rochow, President and CEO of Consumers.
Although the plan encourages the production of energy from renewable sources, it will not completely distance consumers from fossil fuels.
As part of a deal to offset energy losses from coal, the company will buy Covert Generating Station, a natural gas-fired power plant in Van Buren County, next year. This facility will bring more than 1,100 megawatts of energy into the regional grid system, which covers most of Michigan, and regulators said the move will increase reliability for the company’s customers.
In addition, consumers will continue to manage two of their D.E. Units of the Karn production complex until 2031, power plants running on natural gas and heating oil. The company planned to close these units next year.
However, consumers will not acquire other natural gas plants, such as Dearborn Industrial Generation in Wayne County, Kalamazoo River Generating Station in Kalamazoo County and Livingston Generating State in Otsego County, from a subsidiary of its parent company, CMS Energy. The company proposed these purchases last year.
Finally, the company is expected to increase its energy storage capacity to 75 megawatts by 2027 and to 550 megawatts by 2040, and is pursuing an additional 700 megawatts through a new 10-year energy purchase agreement with external producers.
Consumers provide natural gas or electricity to 6.8 million people across the lower peninsula as the largest company in Michigan.
Ten thousand hectares of solar fields are needed to meet Consumers Energy’s climate goals
Michigan’s climate plan calls for 60 percent of renewable energy by 2030
Consumers Energy agrees to retire the entire Campbell power plant by 2025, the final coal
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Is solar better for environment?
Solar and power plant technologies do not cause air or greenhouse gas pollution during operation. To see also : Lunar solar experiment build completed despite challenges. The use of solar energy can have a positive, indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have a greater impact on the environment.
Why is solar energy harmful to the environment? Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells that convert sunlight into electricity. When these slabs get to landfills, valuable resources go to waste. And because solar collectors contain toxic materials such as lead that can be excreted when they decompose, landfilling also creates new environmental hazards.
Is solar energy the most environmentally friendly?
Solar energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. As the impact and impact of solar energy increases, scientists and manufacturers around the world are actively working to create even better and more sustainable solar energy technology. This may interest you : Vivint solar reviews san diego. Solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of energy.
Is solar energy environmentally sustainable Why?
Solar energy does not cause waste and does not pollute water, which is an extremely important factor given the lack of water. Unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power plants, wind energy has one of the lowest footprints of water consumption, making it crucial for conserving hydrological resources.
What is the most environmentally friendly energy?
It becomes clear that for more than 45 percent of respondents, solar energy was the most environmentally friendly source of energy. Almost 24 percent of respondents rated wind energy as environmentally friendly.
Is solar energy the best way to save the environment?
Solar energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy and is an extremely effective way to make your household more efficient and sustainable. Solar panels do not use water to produce electricity, do not release harmful gases into the environment, and their source of energy is abundant and, best of all, free.
What will replace nuclear power?
Solar energy is abundant, inexhaustible and probably the best known of the alternative energy sources. The most common method of harnessing this energy is the use of solar panels, which convert sunlight into electricity, which is then distributed to the end user.
Is nuclear energy being phased out? On May 25, 2011, the Federal Council decided to slow down so as not to extend operating hours or build new power plants. The first Mühleberg power plant was closed on 20 December 2019, the last will cease to operate in 2034.
Can nuclear power be replenished?
Non-renewable energy sources include coal, natural gas, oil and nuclear energy. Once these resources are used up, they cannot be replaced, which is a big problem for humanity as we are currently dependent on them to meet most of our energy needs.
Why nuclear energy is not renewable?
Nuclear energy could be classified as non-renewable because uranium and similar fuel sources are limited. On the other hand, some believe that nuclear energy is renewable because the element thorium and other new technologies can provide the endless fuel needed to power nuclear reactors.
How long does it take for nuclear energy to replenish?
Typically, every 18 to 24 months, a nuclear power plant stops producing electricity to replace a third of its fuel assemblies. The removed assemblies are placed in a spent fuel pool, where they cool over time.
Can nuclear power be reused?
That’s right! Spent nuclear fuel can be recycled to make new fuel and by-products. More than 90% of its potential energy still remains in the fuel, even after five years of operation in the reactor. The U.S. does not currently recycle spent nuclear fuel, but foreign countries like France do.
Can solar replace nuclear?
Today, changing sources such as wind and sun are not one-on-one substitutes for solid capabilities such as nuclear. They may one day soon be using batteries, but in the short term, the time period of these nuclear retirements are not. That means more natural gas.
Is solar power better than nuclear power?
Both solar and nuclear energy offer a significant amount of carbon-free energy. However, solar energy is a safer, more sustainable and cheaper option.
How many solar panels does it take to replace a nuclear power plant?
ODISEK IS SMALL If we look at this in perspective, we would need more than 3 million solar panels to produce the same amount of energy as a typical commercial reactor or more than 430 wind turbines (capacity factor not included).
What will Germany replace nuclear power with?
He says Germany has achieved a remarkable goal in the last decade by abandoning nuclear energy. He replaced it with renewable energy. The country still burns coal for more than a quarter of its energy supply, and Germany hopes to replace it with natural gas and more renewable energy.
Why is Germany getting rid of nuclear?
Some in Germany have called for a reconsideration of the decision to phase out nuclear power, as power plants already in operation produce relatively little carbon dioxide. Proponents of atomic energy say it can help Germany meet its climate targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Can Germany restart their nuclear reactors?
“Nuclear energy is no longer a problem in Germany. It would not even be possible to restart the power plants in the short term, “Markus Krebber, CEO of the German energy company RWE AG, told the German newspaper Rheinische Post.
Has Germany stopped using nuclear power?
WHAT’S HAPPENING TO GERMAN NUCLEAR CRAFTS? Nuclear power plants, which still provided 12% of Germany’s gross electricity production in 2021, remain controversial in Germany, which decided to close them following the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.
What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy?
Weaknesses of solar energy
- Costs. The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is quite high. …
- Depending on the weather. Although solar energy can still be collected on cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency of the solar system is declining. …
- Saving solar energy is expensive. …
- It uses a lot of space. …
- Associated with pollution.
What is the main disadvantage of solar energy? Reliability. One of the disadvantages of solar energy is that it relies on the sun, electricity cannot be produced at night, which means you have to store excess energy produced during the day, or connect to an alternative energy source such as a local utility network.
Is solar cheaper than fossil fuels?
When it comes to the cost of energy from new power plants, wind and solar energy on land are now the cheapest sources – costing less than gas, geothermal energy, coal or nuclear energy. Solar energy in particular has fallen in price at an incredible rate.
What is the cheapest form of energy? In March 2021, Bloomberg New Energy Finance found that “renewable energy is the cheapest option for 71% of global GDP and 85% of global energy production.
Are solar panels better than fossil fuels?
Unlimited solar energy The sun provides more than enough energy to meet the energy needs of the whole world and, unlike fossil fuels, it will not run out any time soon. As a renewable energy source, the only limitation of solar energy is our ability to convert it into electricity in an efficient and cost-effective way.
Is fossil fuels faster than solar?
3. Renewable energy sources are growing faster than fossil fuels. Although natural gas has increased its market share sharply over the last decade, renewable energy has grown faster than any fossil fuel.
Does solar energy last longer than fossil fuels?
Is solar energy better than fossil fuels? Outside the limit that solar energy cannot be used 24 hours a day without a storage solution, it is better than fossil fuels. The sun is a free and renewable energy source.
Can solar replace fossil fuels?
Short answer: yes.
Is renewable energy really cheaper than fossil fuels?
When it comes to energy costs from new power plants, onshore wind and sunshine are now the cheapest sources – costing less than gas, geothermal energy, coal or nuclear energy.
Is renewable energy more expensive?
Is renewable energy cheaper than fossil fuels? According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 1, in 2019 energy produced from renewable sources was comparable in price to the price of fossil fuels.
Why are renewable energy cheaper?
Renewable energy follows the learning curves or Wright’s law – they become cheaper by a constant percentage for each doubling of installed capacity. Therefore, the increasing use of clean energy has reduced the cost of electricity from new renewable power plants.
Are renewable resources cheaper than fossil fuels?
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), of the wind, solar and other renewable energy sources available in 2020, almost two thirds – 62% – were cheaper than the cheapest new fossil fuel. This is twice as much as the equivalent share for 2019. Renewable energy costs are falling.
How much more expensive is solar energy than fossil fuels?
Fossil fuel costs between 5 and 17 cents per kilowatt hour. The cost of solar energy is on average between 3 and 6 cents per kilowatt hour and is decreasing. “
How much more expensive is renewable energy than fossil fuels?
He says the cost of electricity from developing new fossil fuel power plants ranges from $ 0.05 / kWh to $ 0.15 / kWh. For comparison, hydropower averages 0.05 USD / kWh, onshore wind, solar voltaics, biomass and geothermal energy below 0.10 USD / kWh and offshore wind 0.13 USD / kWh.
Is solar more expensive than fossil fuels?
The report follows the conclusion of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its World Energy Plan 2020 that solar energy is now the cheapest electricity in history. Technology is cheaper than coal and gas in most major countries, prospects say.
What is the most costly energy source?
Currently, solar energy is the most expensive form of energy, while coal is the cheapest.