CMS-owned plant cites community concerns and commitment to people and planet as reasons to step back
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 29, 2018 – The Dearborn Industrial Generation (DIG) plant today announced it has made a decision and alerted the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to rescind its request for a new unit expansion air permit application.
After conversations with the MDEQ, community leaders and local stakeholders, the plant decided to take a step back to review its future plans at DIG and continue discussions with the community about how best to move forward in the future.
“We take the community’s environmental protection concerns very seriously. That’s why we will immediately begin the process to rebuild trust with area neighbors and stakeholders fostering more communication and collaboration as we look to the future,” said Richard Mukhtar, President of CMS Enterprises.
In April 2017, the natural gas plant submitted a permit request to the MDEQ to possibly add a new unit. After public health and air quality concerns by a variety of important stakeholder groups and neighbors in the area became apparent through a public process and hearing earlier this month, the plant determined it was in the best interest of the local community to rescind the expansion permit application.
“It is important that DIG and CMS Energy heard the concerns of the Dearborn community and have agreed to rethink their expansion permit with the DEQ,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn). “This community is very worried about the environment they live in, and the number of young children living in and attending school in this area is a significant reason to understand the consequences of decisions being made. We need to ensure that we can provide reliable, affordable energy to all Michiganders, but the need for clean air for our communities is equally important. Going forward we must all work together to ensure both.”
“This is an important moment for the residents of Dearborn who made their voices heard and expressed their concerns about the air quality in the region,” said State Representative Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn). “We commend DIG for listening to the community it serves and for being an example of how to put people first. We look forward to partnering with DIG, local leaders, and residents on setting new, healthier expectations for our community. ”
The DIG plant has a separate request in to the DEQ that modifies limits for an existing DIG permit to enable its existing facility to continue to produce power from natural gas. The company said it will continue conversations with the state’s DEQ and the community on this issue.
“We are committed to continuing to operate our plant in an environmentally sound manner, in compliance with all state and federal environmental laws,” added Mukhtar.
Dearborn Industrial Generation, owned by CMS Enterprises, is a highly efficient natural gas-powered generating facility consisting of two combined cycle units and one simple cycle gas combustion unit. Additionally, there are three boilers that combust both natural gas and waste blast furnace gas from an adjacent steel mill. This facility can produce enough electricity to power approximately 765,000 homes. Commercial operation for the simple cycle unit began in 1999, and the combined cycle units became operational in 2001 replacing coal-fired generation in the Ford-Rouge Complex.
CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business and CMS Enterprises, an independent power company that owns and operates independent power generation businesses.
Media Contacts: Katie Carey, 517-740-1739 or Brian Wheeler, 517-788-2394
For more information about CMS Energy, go to www.CMSEnergy.com.