Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester today announced a schedule of meetings and hearings that includes a public comment period on the permit application for CMS Energy's proposed coal-fired power plant in Bay City. The comment period for the CMS Energy project will begin on March 3, with a public hearing scheduled for April 14 and 15.

Chester said the department will continue reviewing other pending coal plant applications as well.

"The DEQ will be moving the permitting process forward in a manner consistent with both Governor Granholm's executive directive and applicable law," said Director Chester. "We will continue our discussions with the applicants to ensure we have all of the information we need to make appropriate decisions on these projects that are consistent with state and federal law."

Last week, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Stephen Chu announced a sweeping reorganization of the energy department's dispersal of direct loans, loan guarantees, and funding contained in the new economic recovery legislation. Chu will be expediting grant and loan awards for projects, including clean coal and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies.

The goal of the restructuring is to expedite disbursement of money to begin investments in a new energy economy that will put Americans back to work and create millions of new jobs. The U.S. Department of Energy will disperse 70 percent of the funds by the end of 2010.

The schedule for coal plant applications is as follows:

- Public comment period on CMS application begins March 3.

- Information session on CMS application - March 26.

- Public hearing on CMS application - April 14-15.

- Continued review of LS Power permit application - ongoing.

- DEQ meeting with Wolverine, Holland to discuss alternatives analysis - March 2-13.

- Wolverine and Holland submit alternatives analysis within 60-90 days.

Director Chester said that the department would be seeking guidance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to determine how the recent EPA environmental appeals board ruling regarding greenhouse gas emissions would affect the pending coal plant applications in Michigan. The DEQ is also looking to the federal agency to give direction on any potential greenhouse gas regulations that may be under consideration.

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 February 25, 2009 by Pat Watson