Consumers Energy Celebrates Grand Opening of $8.7 Million Clare Service Center
New Service Center Maintains 95-Year Commitment to Community
WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 12, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Consumers Energy today celebrated the dedication of its new $8.7 million, 17,600-square-foot Clare Service Center at an event attended by more than 150 guests and dignitaries.
“Consumers Energy is proud to have been an integral part of Clare history for the past 95 years. This new environmentally-friendly building reaffirms our commitment to providing safe, reliable electric service to homes and businesses in Clare County and surrounding areas for years to come,” said Annette Gardiner, Consumers Energy vice president of shared services.
“We are also pleased to have contributed to the local economy by creating 100 skilled/professional jobs during building construction, and through a joint effort with the City of Clare and Northern Logistics the widening of Colonville Road to accommodate increased traffic flow,” Gardiner added.
The new service center features a number of attributes designed to be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) according to environmental standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Located at 1 Consumers Energy Parkway off Colonville Road, the new service center is better positioned for easy access to U.S. highways 127 and 10, allowing for quick deployment of Consumers Energy employees throughout the area as needed. A total of 38,000 electric customers are served from the Clare Service Center.
Gardiner noted the Clare Service Center was part of a statewide 10-year building improvement plan being implemented by Consumers Energy to ensure that existing and future customers continue to receive the most reliable electric and natural gas service possible.
Other speakers included Michele Kirkland, Consumers Energy vice president of electric operations, union representatives, along with Pat Humphrey, Mayor of Clare, Pamela O’Laughlin, Manager of the Clare Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jim McBryde, President of Middle Michigan Development Corporation. State Sen. Judy Emmons and State Rep. Joel Johnson attended, along with a staff member from Congressman John Moolenaar’s office. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and building tours followed, with lunch served to guests that included local city and business representatives and Consumers Energy area retirees.
Currently 36 Consumers Energy employees are based at the new service center. Positions include electric service, maintenance, forestry, meter service, substation operations, fleet and office employees.
The Clare Service Center follows Consumers Energy’s commitment to sustainability, and has been built to LEED standards. This includes “green” features such as the building’s architectural design, lighting, plumbing, HVAC and electric system, materials and resources. Serenus Johnson of Bay City was the primary design and construction firm for the building.
Other features of the new building include:
Open office concept that encourages communication between work groups
Ergonomic workstations and two state-of-the-art technology conference rooms
Automotive and equipment garage as well as three service bays, a wash bay, one above-ground and one in-ground hoist, a five-ton overhead crane and overhead monorail
Storeroom, outdoor cold storage building and pole yard
Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Media Contacts: Debra Dodd, 586-918-0597, or Roger Morgenstern, 616-530-4364
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.
