Orion Township community raise concerns about proposed gas pipeline

ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Now that warmer weather has settled in, you’re probably not thinking much about keeping your home heated. Consumers Energy and DTE Gas are, however, and the two companies plan to join forces to keep natural gas flowing — in case of a problem in either companies’ pipeline system.

We took a look at the plans for the nearly $15 million proposed project, which includes about 320 new feet of natural gas pipeline and an interconnect facility. The two companies say the “Oakland Resilience Interconnect” project will allow them to access each others’ natural gas supply if needed. An estimated $9.1 million of it is to be paid for by DTE Gas; and $5.4 million by Consumers Energy.

The location of the project is Orion Township in Oakland County, near the intersection of Waldron Road and Joslyn Road, and the popular Polly Ann Trail. It’s one of several similar projects the companies have planned for linking their natural gas pipeline systems, and not all Orion Township natural gas customers are happy about the plan. “You know who’s gonna pay for it,” remarked Oakland County gas ratepayer Ellen Harrington. “It’s not gonna be DTE. It may be from out of their pocket, but out of their pocket comes our money.”

In an email, DTE confirmed the cost of the project “will be recovered through natural gas rate cases,” adding that it will “ensure Michigan’s homes and businesses have the natural gas they rely on.. when they need it.”

Consumers Energy said, “The cost would be reflected in the rates paid by all-natural gas customers,” and that the connected gas lines mean “either company can aid the other.. using available supply if needed.”

Part of the planned project will be on a wetlands area. “Well I don’t like it, naturally, but we’re having to do what we have to do in order to survive,” commented local resident Pauline Cash-Smith about the proposed project.

The project still must be approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. The MPSC will discuss the project on April 30, and all interested gas utility customers may attend the meeting.

More details on the meeting can be found here.

“The Oakland Resilience Interconnect will benefit all natural gas customers of Michigan’s two largest energy providers. The interconnect between Consumers Energy and DTE Gas came from the Michigan Public Service Commission’s Michigan Statewide Energy Assessment in September 2019 and would be the first interconnect built primarily to enhance both companies’ natural gas systems. This interconnect will support Consumers Energy’s and DTE Gas’s natural gas systems by providing the ability for either company to aid the other using available supply if needed. The costs would be reflected in the rates paid by all natural gas customers. This project is part of Consumers Energy’s Natural Gas Delivery Plan, to make our natural gas system more safe, resilient and affordable. Construction is planned for 2025.”

Consumers Energy

“The Oakland Resilience Interconnect project will help ensure the continued delivery of safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to DTE Gas and Consumers Energy customers. This work was recommended by the 2019 Statewide Energy Assessment, performed by the Michigan Public Service Commission, which examined the State’s natural gas infrastructure resiliency. If approved, DTE Gas and Consumers Energy will fund the project costs, which will be recovered through natural gas rate cases only affecting natural gas customers. Once completed in late 2025, this project will be one of several interconnections throughout the state shared by DTE Gas, Consumers Energy and other natural gas companies to ensure Michigan’s homes and businesses have the natural gas they rely on, when they need it.

Natural gas and natural gas infrastructure have an important role to play in Michigan’s decarbonization goals. The Clean Energy legislation will push the pace of decarbonization and deployment of renewables in the state in a way that generally aligns with DTE’s targets. Importantly, the clean energy standard is technology-neutral and provides flexibility for how we can meet the ambitious targets, which is critical.”

DTE Energy