Michigan utility company Consumers Energy has agreed to spend $1 billion to upgrade pollution control at five of its coal-fired units as part of a settlement with the federal government. Consumers Energy will install state-of-the-art pollution control technology, continue with existing pollution controls and comply with new or more stringent emissions standards at its West Olive, Essexville, Muskegon and Luna Pier plants.
The consent decree stems from claims that the company violated the Clean Air Act by modifying its facilities in a way that caused excess releases of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Consumers Energy will pay a civil penalty of $2.75 million and spend at least $7.7 million on environmental projects to mitigate the effects of air pollution. The company previously announced it would retire its seven oldest coal-fired units by April 2016.
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