Consumers Energy broke ground on its third wind energy project, Cross Winds Energy Park II, in Tuscola County’s Columbia Township.

Michigan’s largest energy provider is working with lead contractor White Construction, which has started building access roads. It will begin constructing concrete foundations within two weeks for the 19 new turbines that will be 499 feet tall and generate up to 44 MW.

White Construction was also the contractor for Consumers Energy’s Lake Winds Energy Park near Ludington, Mich.

“We are committed to safely building and operating this wind park, and we are urging motorists in the area to be alert for and practice caution around large construction vehicles as they operate in Tuscola County,” said Dennis Dobbs, VP of enterprise project management, engineering, and services for Consumers Energy.

“Production from this next phase of Cross Winds Energy Park helps us continue to meet customer demand sustainably with safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy,” Dobbs added,

Phase II construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2017, and will go into commercial operation in January 2018. The project will:

• Help Consumers Energy meet the state’s new 15% renewable portfolio standard by 2021.
• Help the company achieve its proposed plan to help large businesses that choose to go 100% renewable.
• Be a total investment of $345 million comprised of 81 wind turbines total – including the first phase of Cross Winds – and be capable of producing up to 155 MW of renewable energy, enough to serve about 60,000 residents.
• Employ 150 workers, part of Consumers Energy’s commitment to add $5 billion into the state’s economy over the next five years through the Pure Michigan Business Connect by seeking goods and services supplied by Michigan companies.

In addition, Phase III plans have been approved for Consumers Energy’s Cross Winds Energy Park by Columbia and Akron townships. This final phase of the park is expected to go into commercial operation in 2020.

Construction materials and equipment will be transported into the project area in Columbia and Akron townships mainly using M-24/Unionville Road north to Hoppe Road.

Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, providing natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.