250MW plant to be BWL’s biggest project ever, creating 1,200 construction jobs

The Lansing Board of Water & Light broke ground today on its new, cleaner and more efficient $500 million natural gas-fired Delta Energy Park. The new plant will generate 250 megawatts (MWs) and create 1,200 construction jobs.

Located at the Erickson Power Station in Delta Township, the new plant will replace both BWL’s coal-fired plants, Eckert and Erickson Power Stations, when they retire in 2020 and 2025 respectively, and will be the BWL’s second natural gas plant. Retiring both plants will make the BWL to become the largest utility in Michigan to generate coal-free power by 2025, reducing its carbon emissions by 80 percent. 

“The BWL has a history of generating its own power for residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout the greater Lansing region. This has allowed us to provide reliable and affordable energy that doesn’t depend on the grid,” said BWL General Manager Dick Peffley. “Delta Energy Park is the next chapter and is the largest project the BWL has ever taken on, allowing us to close our coal-fired plants.”     

“Our customers have asked for cleaner energy sources, and this plant will allow us to deliver on that promise,” said BWL Commission Chair David Price. “This is just one way the BWL is leading the way in being a cleaner, more sustainable utility.” 

Delta Energy Park, the new natural gas-fired combined cycle generating facility, is expected to be operational by June 2021. The plant will have combustion turbines capable of 57MWs each and one steam turbine generator capable of 90MWs. 

“We are so pleased that BWL chose Delta Township for their new cleaner, natural gas-fired plant. This project means bringing hundreds of new construction jobs and increased economic growth,” said Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher. 

The new plant will be built by a combination of local and national firms, including:

• Construction Manager – Lansing Power Constructors, a joint venture between Lansing’s Clark Construction and Barton Malow
• Owner’s Representative – Lansing’s Kramer Management Group
• Design Engineer – Black & Veatch
• Owner’s Engineer – Sergeant & Lundy
• Transmission Line Contractor – Michigan’s Consumers Energy 

“Moving from coal to natural gas ensures creation of energy in a cleaner way, while also keeping rates low. This new plant will ensure that we use clean energy, and the investment will be a great benefit to the residents of the Westside of Lansing,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor. “This conversion to clean energy and this investment shows the benefit of having a municipally-owned utility and customer controlled utility here in Lansing .”  

In addition to the new natural gas plant, the BWL’s is investing in cleaner energy options, including investments in renewable energy sources, such as the Delta Solar Park – Michigan’s largest sun-tracking solar array in Delta Twp., expanded wind energy to be located in Michigan’s thumb-area and growing the BWL’s energy efficiency programs. The BWL is also expanding and modernizing its electric transmission system, with new substations, smart grid investment and a new transmission line. BWL is committed to provide customers 30 percent clean energy by the end of 2020 and 40 percent clean energy by 2030. 

The BWL has 97,466 electric customers, 56,549 water customers, 170 steam customers and 19 chilled water customers. More information about the BWL’s clean energy plan can be found at www.LansingEnergyTomorrow.com. See a live view of the construction by clicking here. 

###