MARSHALL, Mich., May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers Energy is
planning to add renewable energy features to its $5 million Marshall
Training Center expansion, now under construction.
Included in its plans are two small-scale wind turbines, a fixed-panel
solar array, batteries to store the energy and inverters to convert direct
current to alternating current. A small energy-efficient training building
will house the batteries and inverters and serve as a platform for the
solar array.
"We're anticipating a significant increase over the next few years in
the number of small-scale renewable energy installations in our Michigan
service area,' said Dwane Johnson, manager of the Marshall Training Center.
'The renewable energy additions will be used to train electric service
workers and lineworkers in the basic operation of wind and solar power
systems. They'll also provide training on how privately-owned wind and
solar power systems can safely interconnect with Consumers Energy's
electric system,' said Johnson."
Energy produced from the two wind turbines and solar array will be used
for heating and lighting the renewable energy training building. It will
also power the outdoor training facilities located at the rear of the
Marshall Training Center property. Any excess electricity produced will be
fed into the Consumers Energy electric system for customer use.
Construction began late last year on the expansion of the Marshall
Training Center that will result in a state-of-the-art facility constructed
to meet national environmental standards. The standards -- Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design -- are nationally accepted benchmarks for
the design, construction and operation of high-performance facilities,
according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
Among the major improvements to the facility will be a large indoor
pole-climbing area to enhance lineworker training. It will be one of the
few in such facilities in the United States. The expansion is scheduled to
be completed in August.
The Marshall Training Center began operations in 1978 and provides
training for nearly 1,000 employees every year.
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides
natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million
residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at
http://www.consumersenergy.com
SOURCE Consumers Energy
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Related links:
http://www.consumersenergy.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html /
CONTACT:
Bill Mabin, +1-269-969-8511, or Dan Bishop,
+1-517-788-2395, both of Consumers Energy
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