Consumers Energy, a public utility that provides natural gas and electricity, has secured air permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for a combined cycle power plant to be built in Thetford Township in northern Genesee County.
Construction of the 700MW power plant will start in 2014, while the $750m project will create 600 construction jobs, about 30 operating and support jobs, and will be completed in 2017.
Apart from air permit, the company is also required to secure approval of a certificate of necessity, which was filed on 12 July 2013 with the Michigan Public Service Commission.
The certificate of necessity allows the company to undertake comprehensive analysis for the 700MW natural gas plant. It will take around nine months for the filing of review process.
The 230-acre Thetford Township site is owned by Consumers Energy, which has access to high-volume natural gas delivery and high-voltage power transmission lines.
The energy generated from the facility will be enough to serve about 445,000 homes.
Consumers Energy energy supply operations vice president Tim Sparks said, "We appreciate the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s thorough review and timely approval of this air permit request."