April 18, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today awarded the Consumers Energy J.R. Whiting Plant with the Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Gold Award at a ceremony held at the plant in Luna Pier.

The NEP Gold Awards Program was developed by the DEQ to recognize facilities and their community partners who have worked together to improve the environment locally by implementing ongoing environmental projects.

“The staff of the Consumers Energy J.R. Whiting Plant has demonstrated a strong commitment to their community, and enthusiasm for our environment,” said Director Chester. “They are proving the ideal that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand.”

Director Chester pointed out the excellent work done by the J.R. Whiting Plant and its community partners in undertaking an American Lotus Beds Project, as well as their organization of an annual Lake Erie Shoreline Clean-Up. The Consumers Energy - J.R. Whiting Plant works closely with the Lotus Garden Club of Monroe to propagate, transplant, and protect the endangered American Lotus. They also host an annual shoreline clean-up program during National Shoreline Clean-up Week. Sixty volunteers, including the Erie Shores Birding Association and the area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in the shoreline clean-up program.

"We believe it is important to operate our power plant in harmony with the environment. We are committed to working with the community in general and specifically our partners - the Lotus Flower Garden Club, the Erie Shores Birding Association, and the Boy Scouts - to make our site a better place," said Jack Hanson, plant manager at the J.R. Whiting Plant.

The Consumers Energy J.R. Whiting Plant is an active member of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Corporate Citizen Program. The plant received their C3 designation on May 7, 1998, and has successfully renewed their designation since then. The J.R. Whiting Plant is also a 2004 NEP Gold Award Winner.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

“Protecting Michigan’s Environment, Ensuring Michigan’s Future”

Revised April 18, 2006 by Pat Watson