By Dan Gearino, Inside Climate News
Highlights
Consumers Energy in Michigan aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2040, the fastest timetable of any major utility in the country.
- Previously, the utility pledged to cut 90% of its emissions by 2040
- Renewable energy will account for almost 72% of their portfolio, while natural gas will account for almost 13%
- The utility plans to use carbon offsets such as carbon capture and sequestration
- Margrethe Kearney, a Michigan-based staff attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, feels optimistic about Consumers net-zero plan as many other plans from utilities are not realistic or don’t actually reduce emissions
- Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, and DTE Energy are three utilities that have “net-zero plans” that involve opening new natural gas plants and don’t advance the closure of fossil fuel plants
In California, thanks to Senate Bill 100, the California Clean Energy Act of 2017, California has set a target of 100% clean electricity for California by 2045. This is a good step toward a climate-safe California.
Read more: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/26022020/clean-energy-michigan-emissions-cutting-california-solar
Nina Turner
Energy Programs and Communications CoordinatorJanina is a graduate of the Energy Management and Design program at Sonoma State University with experience in non-profits that specialize in sustainability and volunteerism.
