NORTHERN MICHIGAN – Consumers Energy announced in August it will be issuing a request for proposal (RFP) to explore the possibility of selling its 13 hydroelectric facilities as they continue to evaluate the future of the dams and considers all options to safely maintain the dam reservoirs.
It has scheduled another series of meetings across Northern Michigan as it gathers public input on any potential decisions.
Consumers Energy began working with local officials and meeting with community leaders last year as licenses for the company’s dams begin to expire in 11 years. Consumers Energy’s 13 dams together produce less than 1 percent of energy used by the energy provider’s nearly 2 million customers, and they are several times more expensive than other energy sources.
“We know communities and residents that treasure these dams will have questions about the future. That’s why we will continue to provide timely updates and be transparent throughout this decision-making process,” Kapala said. “We’ve committed to exploring all options for safely maintaining these reservoirs for decades to come.”
Consumers Energy’s 30 to 40-year federal operating licenses on the Muskegon, Manistee, Grand, Kalamazoo and Au Sable rivers are set to expire beginning in 2034 through 2041.
Meeting dates and locations are listed below. At the on-site meetings, doors open at 5:30 p.m. Meetings start at 6 p.m.
Loud and Five Channel Dams
Wednesday, October 11
Oscoda School Auditorium
3550 E. River Road, Oscoda, MI 48750
Rogers Dam
Monday, October 16
David L Eisler Center, Ferris State University Campus
805 Campus Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307
Cooke and Foote Dam
Tuesday, October 24
Oscoda High School Auditorium
3550 E. River Road, Oscoda, MI 48750
Mio Dam
Monday, October 30
Mio AuSable High School Auditorium
1110 W. 8th Street, Mio, MI 48647
Meetings scheduled for dams not part of the AuSable River basin include:
Tippy Dam
Monday, November 6
Kaleva Norman Dickson School System
4400 High Bridge Road, Brethren, MI 49619
Hodenpyl Dam
Monday, November 13
Springville Township Community Center
105 E. Mesick Avenue, Mesick, MI 49688
Virtual Meeting Two
November 16, 2023
Register here:
