Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, has entered into an agreement to own, construct and operate the Gratiot Farms Wind Project currently being developed by Tradewind Energy.
Located in North Shade and New Haven Townships in Gratiot County, Michigan, the project will include up to 75 wind turbines and is expected to have a capacity of up to 150 MW of wind energy once fully constructed.
A Development Asset Acquisition agreement will be executed where Consumers Energy will acquire a development package and then manage the wind farm construction. The purchase requires approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Under the agreement to acquire the wind energy park, Tradewind Energy will continue to perform studies, secure permits, acquire real estate and carry out other functions needed to develop the project to the construction stage.
Consumers Energy is expected to assume ownership in May 2019 and will be responsible for constructing and operating the Gratiot Farms Wind Project when it goes into commercial operation, expected in late 2020.
The company has also agreed to purchase the 105-MW Northwest Ohio Wind project located in Paulding County, Ohio, once construction is nearly completed. The project is under construction by subsidiaries of Starwood Energy Group Global. CMS Enterprises will then finish construction and own and operate the facility going forward.
"CMS Enterprises' ownership of the Ohio project enhances the longstanding relationship between GM and CMS Energy," said Rob Threlkeld, head of global renewable energy for General Motors. "The Ohio project will play a key role in offsetting carbon emissions from seven GM plants in the Midwest."
Construction is expected to be completed on the 10,000-acre wind energy park by fall of 2018.
CMS Enterprises has agreed to commit the renewable energy from the Northwest Ohio Wind project to General Motors as part of a 15-year renewable energy purchase agreement.
"CMS Energy is committed to our triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity, and we are excited to support all three by increasing the renewable energy we supply using wind power," said Patti Poppe, CMS Energy's president and chief executive officer. "We are showing it is possible to provide affordable world-class products and service to customers while being responsible corporate citizens."
