A recent $4.6 million deal between the Board of Light and Power and a solar farm developer will bring solar energy to more homes in the Grand Haven area.
The 20-Year Solar Energy Deal
Ranger Power and the Grand Haven BLP signed a 20-year deal, and the utility is expected to start generating solar energy in Washtenaw County next year. According to a press release from the BLP, the resulting 2.15 megawatts of power is enough to power roughly 490 houses annually. The BLP provides power to 15,000 consumers across the townships of Grand Haven, Ferrysburg, Spring Lake, and Robinson.
In 2021, the utility demolished the historic J.B. Sims coal-fired power plant on Harbor Island after decommissioning it the previous year. Since then, the BLP has worked to diversify its energy sources to include natural gas, solar, and wind. With the addition of the Washtenaw County Railsplitter project, the BLP will have a total of more than 23 megawatts in solar energy.
Erik Booth, manager of BLP operations and power supply, said in a prepared statement, “We have now made commitments with six solar projects, two wind power projects, and one battery storage project which helps us continue to grow and diversify our renewable energy portfolio responsibly.”
“We have used a laddering investment strategy, which is similar to a personal investment strategy, to spread our investments across multiple baskets to manage risk and safeguard our community from market fluctuations,” he added.
Expanding Renewable Energy Resources
The Michigan Public Power Agency facilitated the solar power purchase by combining the purchasing power of its member utilities. In a prepared statement, BLP Board Chair Mike Westbrook said, “The BLP’s strategic direction is to maintain a sustainable, economical, and diversified power supply portfolio consistent with proven energy risk management practices.”
“This means that we intend to responsibly increase our renewable energy resources while maintaining a balance between affordability, sustainability, and dependability,” Westbrook noted.
Solar Energy Investment Grows Under BLP
Earlier this month, the Grand Haven Board of Light and Power announced the White Tail Solar project, a 2.15-megawatt initiative scheduled to begin commercial operations in summer 2025. Secured through a 20-year power purchase agreement valued at $4,662,900, the project aligns with the BLP’s goal of reaching 28% renewable energy by 2025.
The BLP’s solar portfolio now exceeds 23 megawatts, supported by projects including White Tail Solar, Calhoun Solar, wind farms, and battery storage. This strategic investment approach, endorsed by Erik Booth, aims to mitigate risks while advancing the utility’s renewable energy goals.
The BLP’s participation in the Michigan Public Power Agency Energy Services Project underscores its collaborative approach to energy procurement. This strategy uses collective purchasing to improve cost competitiveness and resource efficiency.