Two new natural gas power plants were approved for construction Wednesday in the Upper Peninsula.
Officials say the plants will be built in Negaunee and Baraga Township for a total cost of roughly 300 million dollars.
Nick Assendelft is with the Michigan Public Service Commission, which approved the plants. He says the plants will ensure reliable and affordable power for residents.
“The Upper Peninsula does have some concerns in terms of reliability of power generation and the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette has already shut down a few units there and it is slated to be totally shut down within the next few years.”
The plants will be built by the Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2018.