JACKSON, Mich., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar projects planned by 13 residential customers have been selected to move forward as part of Consumers Energy's ongoing implementation of Michigan's energy reform law.
The random-selection process for these qualified applicants is part of the utility's Experimental Advanced Renewable Program. The program provides for the long-term purchase of renewable energy generated by solar energy systems owned by the utility's electric customers.
Residential customer-initiated solar projects in 10 Lower Peninsula counties were selected during this phase of the program. The residential customer projects will be located in the following counties: Arenac, Benzie, Calhoun, Genesee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Leelanau, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Saginaw. The customer-owned projects range in electricity capacity from 1 kilowatt to 20 kilowatts.
Consumers Energy will also be conducting an information session on April 2, 2013 at Grand Valley State University for anyone interested in learning about customer-installed solar energy systems. The session will be held at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon. The session is free of charge, open to the public and will take place from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM.
Speakers during the session will provide information on how customers can install their own solar energy systems as part of Consumers Energy's Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP), enabled by Michigan's energy reform law. Reservations for this session and information about the program are available at www.consumersenergy.com/EARP.
This session will begin two new phases of the program and will begin accepting applications from electric non-residential and residential customers on April 1, 2013. Applications will be due May 8, 2013.
Consumers Energy's program currently has contracts in place to purchase renewable energy from 181 customer-owned solar generators as part of the utility's renewable energy plan.
More information on the Experimental Advanced Renewable Program is available at: www.consumersenergy.com/EARP
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com
SOURCE Consumers Energy