Consumers Energy has announced it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The company said on Monday that it is “proud to take a stand for Michigan and the planet.”
Reports from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show net zero emissions need to be achieved by 2050 in order to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
Legislation currently in the state house would require the state to use 100% renewable energy sources by 2050.
Consumers Energy spokesman Brian Wheeler the utility can get to net zero a decade sooner.
“We think we’re really at the leading edge in terms of the goals and the targets being set.”
Consumers had previously planned to reduce carbon emissions 90% by 2040.
“What we’ve said now is that we think we can take additional steps,” Wheeler said. “If we’re still operating power plants that do use carbon we can offset that through other actions that reduce our impact really to zero.”
The utility does not plan to close its two natural gas plants but says it will break even using “carbon offsets” such as planting trees.
“We’re already getting away from using coal, we’re already adding solar but now we’re going to take some steps where we perhaps plant trees where perhaps we capture carbon from power plants,” Wheeler said. “Really looking at technologies that might not be mature or in action today.”
Wheeler said Consumers has already reduced carbon emissions by about 40% in the last decade and a half.
“We are committed to protecting the planet. We play a role in the work that we do to look out for the environment, to look out for our state, and to look out for the planet.”