MARSHALL, Mich., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy today
dedicated its new Marshall Training Center -- a $5 million investment in
preparing utility workers to meet the challenges of the 21st century,
including service to a growing renewable energy market. The new facility
also is a major step by Consumers Energy in its ongoing statewide
commitment to upgrade the efficiency and environmental quality of its
facilities.
The Marshall Training Center and the facilities improvement initiative
is part of Consumers Energy's $6.4 billion Growing Forward investment plan
for Michigan over the next five years. That plan is highlighted with the
dedication of the new Marshall Training Center, which will use renewable
energy and state-of-the-art training techniques for approximately 2,000
utility service workers each year. Full implementation of the Growing
Forward plan is tied to approval by the Michigan Legislature of
comprehensive energy reform.
The Marshall Training Center is designed to meet standards for
environmentally sustainable construction developed by the United States
Green Building Council (USGBC). These standards were developed to promote
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The standards are
nationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation
of high-performance facilities, according to the USGBC.
"This new training center is a tangible example of Consumers Energy's
$6.4 billion Growing Forward investment plan for Michigan," said David W.
Joos, the utility's chief executive officer. "This positions us well to
serve Michigan's emerging renewable energy market and provide excellent,
21st century training for our employees."
Consumers Energy anticipates a significant increase in coming years in
the number of small-scale renewable energy installations in its Michigan
service area. The renewable energy features at the Marshall Training Center
will be used to train electric service workers and lineworkers in the basic
operation of wind and solar power systems. That will include training on
how privately owned wind and solar power systems can safely interconnect
with Consumers Energy's electric system.
"The Department of Labor & Economic Growth is proud to participate in
this celebration," said DLEG Director Keith W. Cooley. "Consumers Energy is
moving the state of Michigan forward to meet the energy challenges of the
21st century."
The center also includes two small-scale wind turbines, a fixed-panel
solar array and batteries to store the energy. Energy produced from the two
wind turbines and solar array will be used for heating and lighting the
renewable energy training building. Any excess electricity produced will be
fed into the Consumers Energy electric system for customer use.
"This impressive facility demonstrates that Consumers Energy is making
a major commitment to providing effective safety, operational and renewable
energy training for its utility service workers," said Michigan Public
Service Commission Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.
The new center includes an indoor training area and a main building
with six large classrooms, three labs and several outdoor training
facilities. The indoor pole-climbing area is comprised of 23 utility poles
to enhance lineworker training and safety. It is one of the few such indoor
facilities in the United States.
"The number one job at Consumers Energy is safety. We stress this every
day. The new Marshall Training Center plays a central role in supporting
our positive safety culture because what employees learn here will impact
their personal safety and quality of service for our customers," said John
G. Russell, Consumers Energy's president and chief operating officer.
The center incorporates distance-learning capability via classrooms
equipped with large-screen TV monitors and computers. The new Marshall
Training Center replaces a facility that began operations in 1978 and was
demolished in late 2007.
Consumers Energy's statewide facilities improvement initiative includes
a 10-year renovation effort to upgrade its facilities to become more safe,
efficient and environmentally friendly.
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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http://www.consumersenergy.com
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CONTACT:
Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, or Terry DeDoes,
+1-517-374-2159, both of Consumers Energy
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