Official Project Name: Ludington Pumped Storage Facility

Owner: 51%- Consumers Energy 49%- Detroit Edison

Web Site http://www.consumersenergy.com/welcome.htm

Owner’s Key Contact: Jerry Johnson

Key Contact’s Phone: (231) 843-5227

Key Contact’s Fax: (231) 845-7045

Key Contact’s E-Mail: jrjohnson@cmsenergy.com

Project’s Principal Engineer or Firm: Ebasco Engineering Corp.

Originally Constructed: 1969 - 1973

Project Operational: 1973

Original Construction Cost: $327,000,000

Principal Original Contractor: Ebasco Engineering Corp.

Description:

The Ludington Pumped Storage Plant consists of an energy production facility and a 110-feet deep reservoir on Lake Michigan that holds 27 billion gallons of water at a height of 363 feet above lake level. The reservoir is lined with a innovative asphalt barrier to limit seepage. When the demand for electricity is low, water is pumped into the reservoir from the lake. Then when the demand for electricity is high, water is released from the reservoir, flows through penstocks and turns 6 reversible, 433,000 horsepower turbines to make electricity. The total output of 1,872 megawatts is enough to power a city of 1,400,000 people. Customers throughout Michigan use the energy generated here. The relatively simple energy production technology is environmentally benign as no fuels are burned and no pollutants are emitted.