[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 98 (Wednesday, July 10, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H4319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING LUDINGTON PUMPED STORAGE PLANT'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

  (Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
something. I'd like to take a moment to recognize a major milestone for 
the Ludington Pumped Storage unit that was built in Michigan's Second 
District four decades ago and continues to be a great success today.
  Construction of the project, as the locals call it, began in 1969 and 
was completed in 1973 on the shores of Lake Michigan, south of 
Ludington. Today, employees back there are celebrating the plant's 40th 
anniversary.
  The Ludington Pumped Storage Plant was the largest pumped storage 
hydroelectric facility in the world when it was constructed. It is 842 
acres and is 2\1/2\ miles long and holds 27 billion gallons of water. 
There are six generating units at the plant that can produce enough 
electricity to power a city of 1.4 million residents.
  This plant is an example of successful co-ownership between Consumers 
Energy and Detroit Edison, DTE Energy. By displacing higher costs, 
Ludington Pumped Storage Plant saves consumers and DTE customers 
millions of dollars each year.
  What makes the plant's 40 employees most proud are the national 
awards that they've been earning for safe operation of the plant, 
however.
  The future looks bright for the project. There is an $800 million 
investment that's being made on behalf of the customers from both 
utilities to overhaul and upgrade the plant to improve efficiency, and 
we just want to congratulate this plant today as it works to fit into 
our all-of-the-above energy plan.

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