Focused on its Balanced Energy Initiative, Consumer’s Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation (CMS), added more than 240 megawatts (MW) of new Michigan-based renewable energy capacity. The company entered into power purchase agreements with four new renewable energy projects in Michigan, moving another step forward to its goal of attaining a clean energy economy.

Consumers Energy's Balanced Energy Initiative is a comprehensive 20-year plan to meet the needs of its 1.8 million electric customers with a balanced energy portfolio, providing energy efficiency, renewable energy and customer demand management.

These 20-year power purchase agreements are expected to meet the requirements of Michigan's energy reform law, by enabling Consumers Energy reach its target of 10% increase in its renewable energy supply portfolio by 2015.

The four new renewable energy projects include two agreements with Johnston-based John Deere Wind Energy, to develop its Michigan Wind 2 farm in Sanilac County and Harvest II Windfarm project in Huron County. The Michigan Wind 2 farm and the Harvest II Windfarm projects are expected to provide 90 MW and 59.4 MW of renewable energy capacity, respectively, to Consumers Energy in 2012.

A third agreement with John Deere Wind Energy and Great Lakes Wind LLC is to develop the Blissfield Wind Energy project in Lenawee County.  This wind project will provide 81 MW of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy, beginning in late 2012.

The fourth agreement with Waste Management Renewable Energy based in Houston, is to develop an additional landfill gas electric generation facility at its Pine Tree Acres landfill near Richmond in Lenox Township, Macomb County.  The project will provide 12.8 MW of renewable energy capacity to Consumers Energy, beginning in 2012.

These projects are expected to provide power to Michigan homes and businesses, build markets for growing wind manufacturing industry and create roughly 150 and 200 construction jobs.

Consumers Energy has submitted the four new projects to the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval. Energy from these new projects is expected to bring the total expected supply from renewable sources to over 6.2% of Consumers Energy's retail electric sales.

Consumers Energy is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Michigan. It provides natural gas and electricity to more than six million of the state's nearly 10 million residents across 68 Lower Peninsula counties. More than 4% of the power that Consumers Energy supplies comes from renewable sources based in the state.