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Consumers Karn-Weadock plant honored by Chamber for development

Date Posted: November 11 2005

Consumers Energy began planning in 2000 how to reduce emissions from its Karn/Weadock Generating Complex in Hampton Township to meet new EPA requirements.

Construction began in 2001, and by the summer of 2002, approximately 1,000 trades workers were on site - making it one of the largest construction projects in Michigan at that time.

The work paid off, in more ways than one. The Karn 1&2 Selective Catalytic Reduction emissions reduction project received the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Development Award in September, in recognition of the project's positive environmental and economic impact on the community.

The focus of the project was the construction of an 11-story Selective Catalytic Reduction unit - which works to reduce pollutants similar to a car's catalytic converter.

The Consumers Energy emissions reduction work had a significant positive impact on the Bay Area economy. At the height of construction in the year 2002 the utility spent $59 million on locally purchased goods and services in the Bay Area. They followed that by approximately $30 million worth of locally purchased goods and services in 2003 and 2004, when the project was successfully completed and placed in full operation.

The project was completed on schedule and within its $120 million budget. The Selective Catalytic Reduction technology used Karn/Weadock has worked very well, with the device on Karn Unit 2 performing at the best of its class in the entire nation for power plants of comparable size in 2004.

Consumers Energy said its organized labor work force, represented by Utility Workers Union of America Local 144, worked together with local building tradesmen to complete this project with "excellent" results - an 85 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions from the coal-fired Karn units to help make the region's air cleaner.