September 8, 2009
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) staff today submitted its report to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on Consumers Energy's electric generation alternatives analysis (EGAA) for its proposed new coal-fired plant in Bay County's Essexville. The report found that Consumers Energy's long-term capacity need is unjustified without the explicit retirement of existing capacity in its baseload generation fleet.
The utility company filed its EGAA with the MPSC on June 5, as directed in the procedures established in MPSC Case No. U-15958.
The MPSC today posted this report to the docket in this matter. The EGAA, public comments, exhibits and MPSC staff report are available at:
http://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/viewcase.php?casenum=15996
On April 1, the MPSC entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DEQ that clarified each participant's role and responsibility regarding a review process to evaluate electric generation alternatives and provide technical assistance to the DEQ.
The DEQ is charged with determining whether an application filed to construct a new coal-fired electricity generating plant meets the requirements of Michigan and federal air quality laws and requirements.
The MPSC had two tasks, pursuant to the MOU:
· Providing technical assistance to the DEQ on all matters related to the need for electric generation in the state, as it relates to the analysis that looks at alternatives to coal-fired generation.
· Reviewing the alternatives analysis to assess whether energy efficiency, renewable energy, or other alternatives meet future electricity needs.
Comments from the public were allowed for a period of 30 days and ended on July 5. All comments that were submitted within the public comment period were evaluated by Staff and are contained in Case Number U-15996. Issues of concern and/or support were clearly identified and taken into consideration throughout the entire investigative process. Thousands of public comments were received during the 90-day docket period from interested citizens, multiple organizations, and various environmentalist groups expressing their opinion on Consumers Energy's EGAA.
Consumers Energy is seeking a permit to install (PTI) for a new 930 megawatt (gross power output) coal-fired Advanced Supercritical Pulverized Coal boiler, steam turbine generator, and auxiliary processes and equipment at the existing Karn-Weadock Generating Station in Essexville.
The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
Case No. U-15996
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