SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.— We Energies announced late yesterday that they have asked the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to stop System Support Resource (SSR) payments for the continued operation of the Presque Isle Power Plant. The news comes as We Energies received a commitment from the mines to return as customers.
“With the mines back again as customers, Cloverland appreciates that We Energies has asked MISO stop the pending SSR payments associated with the plant. This is great news for the eastern U.P., and we would like to thank everyone who has stepped in to help provide a long term solution for reliable energy in the U.P. – especially Gov. Snyder and Sen. Casperson for facilitating negotiations and Cliffs Natural Resources for being a great corporate citizen,” said Cloverland CEO Dan Dasho. “However, we remain deeply concerned about the remaining $4.6 million in payments from December and January that have not yet been taken off the table and the impact it will have on families and businesses in our region.”
Dasho fears the $4.6 million in SSR payments will be detrimental to the eastern U.P. economy.
“We’re in the middle of heating season and energy use and costs are at their peak. The added SSR payments will be an unfair burden that adds to these costs,” said Dasho. “The paper mill in Manistique, FutureMark Papers, is still facing more than $200,000 per month in increased costs for the two months of SSR payments. War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie is looking at about $16,000 a month and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians—about $60,000 a month. We are worried about how these increased costs will impact these organizations as well as the rest of our members.”
Cloverland Electric plans to continue to petition the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), MISO and Michigan policymakers to urge them to release Cloverland from any SSR payments related to the Presque Isle Power Plant.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It serves over 42,000 homes and businesses in Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties.
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For more information, contact:
Todd Chapman, Communications Manager | 906-632-5181 | tchapman@cloverland.com