KALAMAZOO, Mich. — At the Kalamazoo City Commission Meeting of the Whole on Tuesday, a plan was proposed for the City of Kalamazoo to potentially become the first municipality in Michigan to commit to green energy.

It is part of a program called the “Renewable Energy Program,” and the city would partner with Consumers Energy on it.

The plan would aim to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

“Us enrolling in this program allows for Consumers to invest in renewable energy in the future,” Kalamazoo’s Sustainability Planner Justin Gish said.

A 2022 study showed that Kalamazoo released over 50,000 tons of greenhouse gases, much of it coming from electric appliances.

According to Gish’s presentation to city commissioners, the city must cut those emissions by 2,000 metric tons every year for the next 26 years if they want to reach their goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

The city would commit over 43 million kilowatts of energy in the form of renewable energy, such as solar or wind power, instead of electrical energy.

Trisha Bloembergen of Consumers Energy told News Channel 3 the program would help the city reach their goals of providing clean, green energy.

“We have the resources, we have the knowledge, and we’re able to apply that for their uses,” Bloembergen said.

The program would be an investment on the city’s part. How much the city would end up paying depends on how the market behaves.

The money would come out of the general fund, totaling $2.7 million.

If the market works in their favor, the city could end up saving around $6.3 million over 20 years.

However, customers will not have to pay extra because of the program.

“They’re not paying to install or maintain this program,” Bloembergen said. “Their subscription fee starts once their services are online.”

Gish added Kalamazoo is being proactive in looking at a partnership with Consumers that could potentially accelerate their carbon neutral timeline by 15 years.

“I think taking these steps now shows that we are taking this problem seriously,” he said. “We’re working towards our goals and it’s not just talk. The City of Kalamazoo is trying to walk.”

City commissioners will vote on the proposal at their next meeting on Aug. 16.

If approved, the program would begin in 2028.