1,000th Michigan Business Lands Energy Incentives

Michigan-Business-Energy-Incentives
Dicastal North America plans to produce 3 million cast aluminum wheels for the auto industry in Greenville. (Photo courtesy of Right Place Inc.)

A Chinese auto parts maker that is building a $140 million production facility in Greenville is the 1,000th business in Michigan to benefit from a Consumers Energy program that rewards energy-saving measures in new construction projects. Dicastal North America Inc., an aluminum wheel manufacturer, recently qualified for Consumers Energy’s Business New Construction program and could receive as much as $170,000 in incentive payments for energy efficiency projects it plans to complete at its facility.

To date, Michigan businesses have received over $7.5 million in energy-efficiency incentive payments from Consumers Energy’s Business New Construction program.

“We are committed to helping Michigan succeed,” said Garrick Rochow, Consumers Energy’s vice president and chief customer officer. “Our Business New Construction program is one of many energy solutions that we provide to help Michigan employers that are looking to grow and put more people to work.”

Consumers Energy worked with state and regional economic development officials to encourage CITIC Dicastal to open its production facility in Michigan instead of another state. Consumers Energy has reduced costs for companies that use high amounts of energy through competitive rates and by working with them to use less energy. Dicastal also received an $8.5 million investment package to locate in Greenville. The incentives included a $5 million Community Development Block Grant and a $3.5 million Michigan Business Development Program grant.

Since 2009, Consumers Energy has helped businesses and households to save about $1 billion through its energy efficiency programs.

“Our company is approaching its 130th anniversary this year, and we are committed to supporting our state by providing energy reliably and affordably,” Rochow said. “We are excited to see the Michigan economy continue to rebound with the addition of new companies like Dicastal, and we encourage them to explore the many ways we can help them spend less.”