• Exclusive Content
  • Events
  • Endeavor Business Media Energy
    1. Distributed Energy

    DOE Awards $100M to Consumers Energy to Strengthen Michigan Electric Grid

    Oct. 19, 2023
    Consumers Energy will use the federal funding to strengthen its electric system in disadvantaged communities where the most investment is needed to limit outages
    Image Source: Consumers Energy
    Consumers Energy 6531728105061

    Consumers Energy has received $100 million in funding from the Department of Energy to help strengthen Michigan’s electric grid. The funding represents a significant step in bolstering the company’s recently announced Reliability Roadmap for reducing the number and length of power outages in the state.

    Specifically, Consumers Energy will use the federal funding to strengthen its electric system in disadvantaged communities where the most investment is needed to limit outages. The company will replace poles and equipment and add the latest technology to detect and respond to outages.

    The funding will come through the Grid Resilience Utility and Industry Grants, which supports the modernization of the electric grid to reduce the impact of extreme weather. Consumers Energy allows plans to match the funding with another $100 million once the grant is finalized and work begins.

    "Building a stronger grid to withstand Michigan's fiercest weather is our top priority. We are thrilled the Department of Energy recognizes and is willing to support our plan to keep the lights on 24/7 for our nearly 2 million customers," said Tonya Berry, Consumers Energy's Senior Vice President of Transformation and Engineering. "We consider this a $100 million down payment on our Reliability Roadmap."

    The Reliability Roadmap is Consumers Energy’s blueprint for strengthening Michigan’s electric grid. It includes two long-term goals:

    1. No customer will be without power for more than 24 hours.
    2. No outage will affect more than 100,000 customers.

    The new federal funding will support Consumers Energy by helping accelerate its long-term plan while reducing costs for consumers.

    "Consumers Energy has made a commitment that all communities will experience the benefits of our work to better serve Michigan and participate in the clean energy transformation," Berry added. "We are excited to communicate with leaders and stakeholders in communities that will most directly see the results of our efforts."

    About the Author

    Breanna Sandridge, Senior Editor

    Breanna Sandridge is senior editor for EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge, both part of the energy group at Endeavor Business Media.

    Prior to that, Breanna was managing editor for Machinery Lubrication and Reliable Plant magazines, both part of Noria Corp. She has two years experience covering the industrial sector.

    She also is a 2021 graduate of Northeastern State University (Oklahoma) with a Bachelor's in English. 

    Email

    Rendering of SMR nuclear plant image credit GE Hitachi Nuclear
    ge_hitachi
    Rendering credit Emirates Airline
    emirates
    Floating solar array for Park City, Utah. Image credit D3Energy
    Image credit Sage will examine the potential for geothermal baseload power generation to provide clean and resilient energy at the military base. The effort will consider geothermal technologies as well as the integration of hybrid energy solutions to generate cost-effective, 24/7 energy resilience.
    geothermal_dreamstime
    Image credit Alex Hui, U.S. Army Reserve Parks Reserves Forces Training Command
    army_reserve