June 29, 2011                                                                                                                        11-0629

For More Information                                                 Brad Wurfel, 517-373-7917, wurfelb@michigan.gov 

                                                            Mary Ann Dolehanty, 517-335-4607, dolehantym@michigan.gov 

Wolverine Power clear to move ahead with new plant construction
 

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality today announced it has approved a Permit to Install a coal-fired power plant in Rogers City, noting that the company's proposal satisfies all state and federal clean air laws.

Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative Inc. proposes to install and operate a 600-megawatt, coal-fired steam electric power plant. The power plant is proposed for the Carmeuse quarry property, Rogers Township, Presque Isle County, Michigan.

The Permit to Install application for this project originally was denied May 21, 2010, due to a failure to demonstrate a need for the proposed facility. Wolverine Power challenged the decision. The Missaukee County Circuit Court ruled Jan. 28 of this year that an alleged lack of need for the proposed facility alone, separate from air quality concerns, was not a legal basis to deny the permit application.

The DEQ re-evaluated the Permit to Install application for the proposed power plant, absent the consideration of need and accounting for two federal regulations that were finalized after the denial action last year. The new federal air quality standards include that the applicant evaluate pollution reduction technologies for greenhouse gases.

DEQ officials today released the mandatory response to comment with the approved permit. Copies of the department's response to comments document, permit terms and conditions, and company approval letter are available on the DEQ Web site, www.michigan.gov/air.

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