MARSHALL, Mich., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy today dedicated its new Marshall
Training Center -- a $5 million investment in preparing utility workers to meet the challenges of the
21st century, including service to a growing renewable energy market. The new facility also is a major
step by Consumers Energy in its ongoing statewide commitment to upgrade the efficiency and
environmental quality of its facilities.

    The Marshall Training Center and the facilities improvement initiative is part of Consumers Energy's $6.4
 billion Growing Forward investment plan for Michigan over the next five years. That plan is highlighted 
with the dedication of the new Marshall Training Center, which will use renewable energy and 
state-of-the-art training techniques for approximately 2,000 utility service workers each year.
Full implementation of the Growing Forward plan is tied to approval by the Michigan Legislature of 
comprehensive energy reform.

    The Marshall Training Center is designed to meet standards for environmentally sustainable
construction developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). These standards were 
developed to promote Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The standards are
nationally accepted benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of high-performance 
facilities, according to the USGBC.

    "This new training center is a tangible example of Consumers Energy's $6.4 billion Growing
Forward investment plan for Michigan," said David W. Joos, the utility's chief executive officer. 
"This positions us well to serve Michigan's emerging renewable energy market and provide excellent,
21st century training for our employees."

    Consumers Energy anticipates a significant increase in coming years in the number of small-scale 
renewable energy installations in its Michigan service area. The renewable energy features at the 
Marshall Training Center will be used to train electric service workers and lineworkers in the basic
operation of wind and solar power systems. That will include training on how privately owned wind and 
solar power systems can safely interconnect with Consumers Energy's electric system.

    "The Department of Labor & Economic Growth is proud to participate in this celebration," said DLEG 
Director Keith W. Cooley. "Consumers Energy is moving the state of Michigan forward to meet the 
energy challenges of the 21st century."

    The center also includes two small-scale wind turbines, a fixed-panel solar array and batteries to
 store the energy. Energy produced from the two wind turbines and solar array will be used for heating 
and lighting the renewable energy training building. Any excess electricity produced will be
fed into the Consumers Energy electric system for customer use.

    "This impressive facility demonstrates that Consumers Energy is making a major commitment to 
providing effective safety, operational and renewable energy training for its utility service workers," said 
Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.

    The new center includes an indoor training area and a main building with six large classrooms, three 
labs and several outdoor training facilities. The indoor pole-climbing area is comprised of 23 utility poles 
to enhance lineworker training and safety. It is one of the few such indoor facilities in the United States.

    "The number one job at Consumers Energy is safety. We stress this every day. The new Marshall 
Training Center plays a central role in supporting uur positive safety culture because what employees 
learn here will impact their personal safety and quality of service for our customers," said John
G. Russell, Consumers Energy's president and chief operating officer.

    The center incorporates distance-learning capability via classrooms equipped with large-screen 
TV monitors and computers. The new Marshall Training Center replaces a facility that began 
operations in 1978 and was demolished in late 2007.

    Consumers Energy's statewide facilities improvement initiative includes a 10-year renovation
effort to upgrade its facilities to become more safe, efficient and environmentally friendly.

    Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 
nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

    For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com