The Lansing Board of Water and Light announced plans Tuesday to replace its primary source of electricity and says it will come with a increased cost to its customers.
The BWL will close its Eckert power station by January 1, 2020 The plant, until recently, had generated about one-third of the energy supplied by BWL, but the 1950's era plant is at the end of its operational life.
The Citizen's Advisory Council, formed to question customers and energy industry experts, is recommending that the Eckert plant be replaced with clean, renewable sources and energy efficiency programs.
The recommendations call for:
*Increased wind energy.
*New solar energy
*Electric generating natural gas plant
*Implementing programs to encourage electricity use.
The BWL admits the retirement of the Eckert plant and start up costs for the new sources will raise rates, but it describes the increases as modest.
The BWL also says the new energy sources and conservation programs would make it the cleanest municipal energy plant in Michigan.
