What Is MCV?
MCV is the largest natural gas-fired combined electrical energy and steam energy generating plant in the United States of America. MCV is a major wholesale supplier of electrical energy to customers in Michigan and the midcontinent, and a supplier of bulk process steam energy to proximity chemical production companies. Using combined-cycle heat and power (CHP) technology, MCV is an integral part of the efficient energy economy, efficiently converting the energy contained in natural gas to produce electricity and process steam.
Located in Midland, Michigan, the facility is capable of continuously producing 1,633 Megawatts of electrical power, and in parallel, producing process steam at a rate of 1.5 million pounds per hour. This is enough electrical energy output to supply a city the size of over one million households, and at the same time, constantly supply major-sized industrial facilities with all of their process steam.
Our company has a highly capable workforce and in combination with strong partnerships with supporting vendors and industry leading operational programs, MCV has an excellent record in safety and reliability.
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Our mission is to safely deliver highly reliable and cost-competitive energy to our customers. We accomplish this by investing in both plant assets and in our employees. We focus on employee safety, operational excellence, workforce professional development, and adding value for our customers. We will achieve this by adhering to our core values.
Our Values
- Safety comes first – all day, every day
- MCV Safety Slogan – “Always be Smart, Safety from the Start”
- Focus on preventive safety practices and proactive measures
- Assure safety first before proceeding with any activity
- Anticipate hazards and manage risk with good planning and preparation
- Accept responsibility for our own and each other’s safety
- Identify and correct safety concerns and do so with a sense of urgency
- Safety is achieved without shortcuts
- Striving to attract, develop, and retain the best talent
- Combining skills and human resources to proactively solve problems
- Promoting open and honest communication throughout the business
- Dedicated to providing professional, unfailing services to both our internal and external customers through honesty, accountability, and maintaining high ethical standards
- Business relationships based on trust, honesty and dependability
- Taking responsibility for actions and upholding expectations
- We recognize that people are essential to our success and respect their exceptional efforts
- Fostering a trustful and inclusive environment
- Encouraging individual diversity and everyone's unique contributions
- Treat everyone with courtesy and encourage open and honest dialogue through listening, understanding and acknowledging feedback
- Regularly inform employees of important company issues
- Recognize and reinforce great performance and proper behaviors
- Identify and address less than adequate performance and improper behaviors
- Meeting commitments and adding value for our stakeholders
- Building MCV to be a secure company for the future of Michigan
- Respect for the environment and protection of its resources
- Giving time and resources to the community in which we live and work
- Complying with laws and regulations
Safety First
People
Integrity
Respect and Recognition
Stewardship
We all know electricity is vital to our well-being as a society. In the Midwest region of the United States, whether the demand for electricity grows or supply is reduced because of shuttering plants, MCV is ready to provide additional energy from its facility in a safe, clean, reliable, and cost-competitive manner. When the need for additional energy arises in the state of Michigan, MCV will be ready to supply steam and electricity in support of economic growth. In addition, MCV’s strategic location and technical capabilities offer a unique opportunity for a generation expansion. MCV can offer substantial cost advantages versus a greenfield development, as a capacity addition can be serviced by existing infrastructure and allow for significant savings for both residential, commercial and industrial users.
MCV History
1984 - Original Design
Originally designed as the Midland Nuclear Power Plant with twin pressurized water reactors similar in design to those at Palisades in South Haven, MI, owner Consumers Power abandoned the project, which was 85% complete, in 1984 citing numerous construction problems. Such problems included sinking and cracking of some buildings on the site due to poor soil compaction prior to construction, as well as shifting regulatory requirements following the 1979 Three Mile Island incident.
1986 - The Conversion
MCV was organized under an innovative form of non-utility ownership and was originally made up of seven partner companies, which were subsidiaries or affiliates of major worldwide organizations. Each partner had a vested interest in the partnership's success from being a supplier of equipment or gas transportation or being a customer or engineer/contractor. Conversion of the plant from an incomplete nuclear station to a Combined-Cycle cogeneration facility began in 1986 and was completed in 1990 when commercial operation began.
1990 - Commercial Operation Begins
The Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV) began operation in 1990. At that time, it was the largest gas-fired steam recovery power plant in the world.
Power Magazine awarded MCV its 1990 Power Plant Award
Independent Energy magazine presented MCV its Innovative Project Award
2006
Consumers owned a 49 percent share in Midland Cogeneration Venture until 2006.
In 2006, MCV was acquired by GSO and Rockland.
2008-2009 Boiler Construction
MCV began construction of six natural gas-fired boilers in April 2008 and completed the installation in February 2009. MCV invested approximately $72 million in the project and created 16 new full-time positions as a result. The Midland Area Chamber of Commerce awarded MCV the Midland Area Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Impact Award for this project.
2009 - EQT and Fortistar
In 2009, MCV was purchased by Swedish private equity firm EQT Infrastructure and US energy investment group, Fortistar, LLC, who is based in White Plains, NY.
2012 - Borealis
In 2012, EQT and Fortistar sold MCV to Borealis Infrastructure which invests and manages assets on behalf of OMERS Administration Corporation—one of Canada's largest pension funds. MCV is contracted to supply Dow and Consumers Energy steam and electricity until 2025.