Nearly 20 years after it’s initial proposal, Indeck Energy broke ground on a $1 billion natural gas energy center in Niles, Michigan.
The plant will provide energy for about 700-thousand homes and businesses within a 150 mile radius.
It’s expected to create about 500 jobs during the nearly three years of construction. About 21 more permanent employees will run the plant once it’s operational.
Congressman Fred Upton said this energy center will benefit Southwest Michigan on many levels - including stimulating the economy.
“We’re all going to be better off because it’s more efficient energy, cleaner energy than today, helping the tax base by nearly doubling it, and creating jobs,” Upton said.
David Hicks is the Vice President of Business Development at Indeck Energy. He said the plant uses something called combined cycle technology.
“We’re actually creating electricity twice from the same natural gas fuel, extremely efficient and we’re using low-cost natural gas sourced from many different areas,” Hicks said.
Commercial operation is expected to begin March 2022.
