Consumers energy ludington pumped storage address

How does the Ludington Pumped storage plant work?

It’s part of the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant, which uses simple technology: Water is piped from a lower reservoir — the lake, in this case — to an upper one, then released downhill through supersized turbines.

Who owns the Ludington Pumped storage plant?

The Ludington Pumped Storage plant is connected to six 345-kV Transmission lines, all owned and maintained by METC, a subsidiary of ITC Holdings. The project was given the 1973 award for "Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement" by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

How much does a Ludington pumped hydro plant cost?

The plant cost $347 million to build five decades ago and would today cost an estimated $5.5 billion to construct, officials said. Today the Ludington pumped hydro plant is a major element in Michigan’s renewable energy portfolio.

What does Michigan's Ludington pumped hydro plant do?

Today the Ludington pumped hydro plant is a major element in Michigan’s renewable energy portfolio. Consumers Energy says it wants to generate 90% of its electricity from clean sources by 2040, ending all coal use by 2025 and relying more heavily on natural gas.

Does Consumers Energy have a pumped hydroelectric storage facility?

But it’s not an average lake. The pumped hydroelectric storage facility operated by Consumers Energy isn’t new technology. It was built more than 50 years ago to help absorb nuclear energy during overnight hours when customer demand for electricity was low.

How does the Ludington Pumped storage plant protect fish?

To protect fish in the environment, the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant installs a 2 1/2 mile long barrier net every spring to keep perch, salmon, and trout away from the plant. This net is removed in the fall due to the severe winters that would damage it.