Plan Includes All-Of-The-Above Mix of Solar, Wind, Natural Gas and Storage

JACKSON, Mich., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy today is unveiling its Energy Supply Plan, a 20-year blueprint to deliver reliable and affordable energy for Michigan through an all-of-the-above mix of natural gas, solar, wind, pumped and battery storage. This long-term strategy reinforces our commitment to transparency as we meet Michigan's energy needs and support the state's growth.

Consumers Energy is committed to putting forward the most affordable energy plan that both delivers reliable service and meets Michigan's clean energy law targets. This all-of-the-above plan keeps costs rising less than the rate of inflation of 3% while investing in the new resources Michigan needs.

"Michiganders count on us to power their lives 24/7/365. This plan takes an all-of-the-above approach that serves our state and customers today and ensures we have the energy supply for our state over the next two decades," said Chris Fultz, Consumers Energy's senior vice president of electric supply. "Our plan will help lower customers' bills while powering Michigan with affordable energy."

The Energy Supply Plan includes expanded renewable energy resources and two fast-starting natural gas plants to supply reliable power to our customers. In addition, we are announcing two contracts to purchase power from third-party sources – a clean resource contract to meet Michigan's clean energy standards and a new agreement to purchase power from a natural gas plant in Midland to support our customers' reliability needs.

Michigan customers will benefit from other aspects of the IRP:

New Power Sources: The addition of over 19 gigawatts (GW) of solar, wind and battery storage resources by 2040 will meet customers' energy needs and targets in Michigan's 2023 energy law. Those will be supported by two new fast-starting natural gas plants, generating 1.4 GW, in Bay and Genesee counties that can serve Michigan at times of high energy demand.
Reliable, Efficient Generation: The plan repurposes existing industrial sites at the Karn Energy Center and in Thetford Township, minimizing land impacts and replacing two retiring plants, delivering fast-starting power when customers need it. The plants will offer a solid reliability foundation that allows us to continue adding renewable energy. The Energy Supply Plan also includes a new long-term power purchase agreement with the Midland Cogeneration Venture to reliably power Michigan customers.
Community Investments: This plan will strengthen the state's workforce by adding thousands of construction jobs and creating hundreds of permanent positions through our investments in natural gas, wind, solar and battery storage. In addition to the expanded workforce, the plan's investments in these local communities will enhance the tax base by billions of dollars.
Clean Energy and Customer Resources: Our plan shows the company's continued commitment to clean energy options, such as solar, wind and battery storage to achieve targets set in the 2023 energy law. Consumers Energy also will continue to expand customer programs that have lowered customers' bills by $8.5 billion since 2009 and are projected to save $18 billion by 2050.

"It's important to see Consumers Energy make this commitment to skilled labor jobs here in Michigan," said Craig Wright, president of the Michigan State Utility Workers Council. "The company's plan to invest in our state will create good-paying, meaningful opportunities for people in our workforce who are ready to do the job and meet Michigan's energy needs now and for years to come."

The full Energy Supply Plan and supporting documents are being filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission today and are subject to approval in the next year.

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We are committed to delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

Learn more at ConsumersEnergy.com/EnergySupplyPlan.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-energy-plan-will-power-michigans-next-generation-with-reliable-and-affordable-energy-302869085.html

SOURCE Consumers Energy