Consumers Energy holds open house, tour at Freedom Compressor Plant

Consumers Energy Compressor Station in Freedom Township

Forty-four residents, board members, Consumers Energy employees, and other interested persons attended an open house and facilities tour at the Freedom Compressor Plant on a fresh and bright summer morning last Saturday.

Hosted by senior staff at the compressor plant, the outdoor portion of the open house consisted of introductions, welcome, and an overview of the recently-completed $200 million upgrade to the Pleasant Lake Road facility, which has been a part of Freedom Township's landscape since 1948. Prominently featured was the extremely recent (as in, last Thursday, August 4) installation of an emergency siren system that will alert neighbors to all types of public safety situations that could poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment.

"This is a day of thanks and celebration," said John Broschak, Vice President of Generation Operations and Compression at Consumers Energy, who has become a familiar face and voice for the company in the Freedom Township community. "For more than 70 years, this plant has been an integral part of natural gas transmission through the area. We are celebrating a major milestone now and are proud to show off our newly-renovated facility and enhanced public safety features, while also thanking our neighbors for their patience, engagement, and feedback during this time."

Kay Lancour, Public Safety Outreach and Damage Protection coordinator, described how the company had worked closely with Washtenaw County Emergency Services Director David Halteman to coordinate placement of the new siren along with developing safety and emergency plans specifically designed for the compressor plant in Freedom Township. This is the culmination of a long-term effort involving Consumers Energy, County, and Township government.

Several residents asked questions about the upgrades and also about any potential risks to residents due to the specific nature of the compressor station and the many other underground pipelines that pass through the township.

"What's the biggest threat to residents? What's the worst thing that could possibly happen?" was one of the major questions posed by those in attendance. Lancour replied that the biggest threat to residents is actually third-party damage — that could be caused by residents digging in the vicinity of gas lines without first calling 811 to reach MISS DIG. MISS DIG, when contacted, will issue a ticket for the digging and provide an employee on-site to make sure correct procedures are followed to avoid this type of damage.

The compressor station is inspected regularly by the Michigan Public Service Commission for a variety of safety issues and although there is always a threat of fire or explosion, there are numerous procedures in place to minimize long range damage, including an immediate shut-off to the flow of natural gas through the plant.

"There are always threats all around us," Broschak added. "Our job is to manage any potential threat to you. Our commitment is to provide an acceptably low level of risk. The safety features we have in place make the possibility of a serious incident extremely low."

Avelock Robinson, Director of Gas Compression Operations, noted that the company's policy is always to "Expect the unexpected," and to model its response according to each individual situation.

Other residents questioned whether an abrupted pipeline outside the facility would affect safety in the township. Broschak noted that while it would certainly depend on the location, that all companies have similar safety procedures in place, coordinated at the county level, and local first responders have been trained in how to react to such an emergency.

Freedom Township Planning Commission Chair Matt Little, who also worked as a liaison between the township and Consumers on a detailed safety plan for the township, noted that the new systems currently in place since the renovation are "infinitely more safe" than the prior systems and equipment, some of which dated back to the early 1950s. "They are more sensitive, and based on the latest technology," Little said. "They are helping to keep this facility safe."

In conclusion, Broschak admitted that in the past there have been many planned activities of which nearby residents have not been notified in advance, and apologized for that oversight. He said that Consumers is working hard to communicate in advance so that neighbors won't be concerned by sudden or disconcerting noises. "In future, please know that if you hear something that concerns you, and the siren does not go off, there is no emergency. And in the meanwhile, we love to hear your complaints! We encourage you to let us know of your concerns so we can make for better relationships with the community."

A tour followed the question and answer session, that allowed people (but not cameras or cell phones!) inside some of the facilities. The compressor station consists of five major engines powered by natural gas; three working now, and two that are being moved from other site near the fence. This plant only feeds two Consumers Energy pipelines and one Panhandle pipeline. The new facilities are very quiet, compared to the older buildings, and more technologically advanced with additional safety and maintenance options.

Workers who led the tour said that Consumers is adding more levels of safety, more cameras, more sensors, and more levels of security all controlled by personal badge code readers and locked critical areas including the control room, computer data bank, and other details they could not discuss.

The new plant has infrared, camera, and other sensors that can detect a flash (the reason for no camera or cell phone in the buildings) or fire in milliseconds and shut things off to stop fires or explosions and vent off gas rapidly. Many adjustments for better safety have been made from lessons learned including the 2019 York Station (Pennsylvania) fire.

There are, of course, risks in any operation and perhaps more danger factors in a natural gas compression facility than in lighter industrial establishments. However, this event highlighting the safety features of the  compressor station, along with the installation of the siren on the property, will go a long way to making the residents of Freedom Township, especially those living near Pleasant Lake, feel more comfortable and safe in their homes.

Management team from Consumers Energy; from left: John Broschak, Kay Lancour, Stephanie Blatt, Tara Guenther, and Avelock Robinson.

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New siren located at the Freedom Township Compressor Station will alert Freedom residents to all types of emergency situations.

Except for scheduled testing the first Saturday of each month, May through October, at noon, the sirens will be activated for the following emergencies:

1) The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning.
2) A severe thunderstorm has been detected with damaging winds of 75 MPH or greater.
3) A hazardous materials accident requires immediate protective action by the public.
4) An attack on the United States is imminent, underway or has recently occurred.

Warning siren activation is a signal to alert members of the public to immediately go indoors and monitor local Emergency Alert System media outlets for official information. Washtenaw County’s emergency broadcasters are: WEMU 89.1 FM; WWWW 102.9 FM; WQKL 107.1 FM; WTKA 1050 AM; and WLBY 1290 AM.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.