Big Rock Point: The Journey's End

Consumers Energyhas fulfilled its promise to restore the Big Rock Point nuclear plant site to a greenfield — free for unrestricted use by new generations of Michigan residents.
The significance of this small 67-megawatt nuclear energy pioneer — tucked away along northwest Michigan’s picturesque shoreline — will long be remembered as a shining example of operational excellence and good citizenship.
From the plant’s groundbreaking in 1960, through the final shutdown in 1997 to celebrating our arrival at the end of the “road to green,” Big Rock Point’s long and safe journey is a tribute to the employees, families, friends and neighbors who have contributed to much of the project’s success.
When you work and live in a small town, you become woven into the fabric of community life. Over the years, generations of Big Rock Point employees have been involved in local little leagues, have become engaged in improving the quality of education, and have contributed thousands of hours of volunteer service with chari- table organizations. It was impossible to separate Big Rock Point employees from the citizens of Charlevoix, Petoskey and other surrounding communities because they were — and are — part of those communities.
Though many people may be sad to see Big Rock Point go, it’s important to remem- ber that decommissioning is a natural phase in the life of a nuclear power plant. People wanted to make this final phase a success that the industry and others could point to and say — “That’s how you do it.” And they did just that, setting a high standard for all future nuclear power decommissioning projects in the United States.
A hallmark of Big Rock Point and certainly a key to its success — from its inception to its return to a greenfield — has been its ability to find and apply innovative, simple, lower-cost options to resolve challenges. By doing so, we often set a new standard and became the model for others to follow.
In the 9-year transition from the nation’s longest-operating nuclear plant to an inter- nationally recognized leader in the decommissioning process, we have maintained our three goals — safety, efficient restoration and preparing all people for future changes and opportunities.
All who have been involved in this venture have every legitimate reason to take enormous pride in the final achievement at Big Rock Point.
On behalf of the many past and current employees at Big Rock Point and the hundreds of thousands of shareholders, Consumers Energy is pleased to return this 560-acre setting to a natural state. Thank you for being part of our team.