Mar. 31: New natural gas-fueled power plant begins commercial operation in U.P.

WEC Energy Group’s subsidiary, Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp., began commercial operation of the A.J. Mihm Generating Station and the F.D. Kuester Generating Station in the Upper Peninsula. The natural gas-powered generating stations replace the energy produced at the company’s coal-fueled Presque Isle Power Plant, which was retired the same day.

“The new generating stations are good for our customers, good for business and good for electric reliability throughout the U.P.,” Kevin Fletcher, WEC Energy Group’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “Closure of the Presque Isle Power Plant also helps achieve our goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent, well ahead of our 2030 target.”

WEC Energy Group funded the $275 million investment. Half of the funding will be recovered through a 20-year agreement with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., which operates the Tilden Mine in Marquette County. 

The complete news release is available online.