West Michigan Local Governments Seek Public Hearing on Consumers Energy’s Wastewater Plan
Local governments in West Michigan are urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a public hearing regarding Consumers Energy’s proposal to inject wastewater from its final coal-burning plant deep underground.
The J.H. Campbell plant, which is still operational due to an order from the Trump administration, is facing closure. Once the plant shuts down, Consumers Energy will need an alternative method to dispose of wastewater from its coal ash landfills, which is currently mixed with cooling water and discharged into Lake Michigan.
The utility asserts that the wastewater, known as leachate, is non-hazardous and can be securely stored approximately one mile underground, encased in steel and cement.
A spokesperson for Consumers Energy stated, “This technology has been used for nearly a century and has received broad approval from state and federal agencies for implementation in Michigan.”
The company also highlighted that there are over 30 active deep injection well permits in Michigan and around 900 in the United States. Consumers Energy already operates two deep injection wells at its Zeeland generating station since 2002, with no reported operational issues or permit violations.
Despite these assurances, some residents express concerns about potential environmental risks associated with the plan. Ottawa County Board of Commissioners and Port Sheldon Township have jointly requested the EPA to organize a hearing to address these apprehensions.
In a letter to the EPA, Port Sheldon Township Supervisor Michael Sabatino emphasized, “The potential long-term implications of such a facility, involving environmental considerations, groundwater protection, and overall public confidence, warrant a transparent and accessible forum for information sharing and public input.”
