December 6, 2019
Michigan

Energy Park third phase now producing power

33 new turbines have combined 76-megawatt capacity | Tribune Staff Reports | Huron Daily Tribune | Friday, December 6, 2019 | www.michigansthumb.com

TUSCOLA COUNTY – The third phase of Cross Winds Energy Park in Tuscola County started operations this week.

The 33 turbines built have a combined 76-megawatt capacity, enough power to serve 30,000 residents, and cost $150 million to build.

“Each spinning wind turbine producing sustainable, renewable energy breathes life into our Clean Energy Plan, a commitment we’ve made to our Michigan friends and neighbors to eliminate coal, cut harmful emissions and help greatly improve the quality of our state’s water and air,” said Dennis Dobbs, the vice president of enterprise project management, engineering and services for Consumers Energy.

“Thanks go to the people of Columbia and Akron townships, who welcomed us into their community,” Dobbs also said. “We are looking forward to being a good neighbor in the community for the long term.”

The wind park now has a total of 114 wind turbines with a capacity of 231 megawatts, enough power for 90,000 residents, or the environmental equivalent of taking over 179,000 cars off the roads.

Five new full-time employees have been added to the staff of the wind park, bringing the total to 16.

Phase I began operations in December 2014 with 62 turbines and 111 megawatts of power and Phase II began in January of 2018 with 19 turbines producing 44 megawatts of power.

Consumers Energy’s Clean Energy Plan calls for the provider to meet 90% of customer’s electricity capability by 2040 through clean energy resources and reducing carbon emissions by 90% during that period.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2019/12/06/energy-park-third-phase-now-producing-power/