October 6, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today welcomed Consumers Energy's Karn/Weadock Electric Generating Complex in Essexville to Michigan's Clean Corporate Citizen (C3) program. The Karn/Weadock complex has become the 130th facility in Michigan to join the growing program that recognizes the state's top environmental performers.

“We are proud to welcome the Karn/Weadock complex to the Clean Corporate Citizen program," said Director Chester. “Consumers Energy is demonstrating our belief that a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand-in-hand."

The DE Karn and JC Weadock electric generating plants are part of the Karn/Weadock Complex located on a 1000-acre site on Saginaw Bay in Essexville. The Karn plant first began producing electricity in 1959, and is capable of generating 1791 megawatts of electrical power. The Weadock plant first began producing electricity in 1940 and is capable of generating 310 megawatts of electrical power. The Karn/Weadcock complex is Consumers Energy's fifth C3 site, and the first C3 in Bay County.

The plant uses 3 million tons of coal, 1.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 23 million gallons of fuel oil per year. The company voluntarily installed equipment to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and made adjustments to convert the site to burn low-sulfur western coal.

“We are looking for ways to continuously improve Karn/Weadock's environmental performance. Examples of this are our recent investment of $120 million to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions at the Karn plant by 84 percent and our current approximately $35 million improvement initiative to dispose of all our fly ash in a dry state to help improve surface and ground waters in the Saginaw Bay area. We have also begun testing technology to measure mercury to meet the next environmental challenges," said Consumers Energy Senior Vice President Bob Fenech.

“Karn/Weadock is proud to become Bay County's first business to earn the Clean Corporate Citizen designation," added Site Business Manager Rich Ford.

The Clean Corporate Citizen program is open to establishments regulated under any of Michigan's environmental statutes. Designations are valid for one year and must be renewed annually. More information on the Clean Corporate Citizen program is available on the DEQ's Web site at www.michigan.gov/deqc3.

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 October 6, 2006 by Pat Watson