Carbon-Free by 2030

Published by Terry Rubenthaler on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in Electric

Michigan electric cooperatives carry the bold vision of the men and women in the 1930s who brought electricity to rural communities when no one else would. Neighbors came together with a collective determination, rolled up their sleeves, and lit up the countryside.

Today, Michigan cooperatives continue to lead the way. From Michigan’s first community solar project and advanced smart grid technologies to the first commercial-scale wind farm in the state, we have a long history of providing innovative electric solutions for rural communities.

One way we do this is through our partnership with other Michigan electric distribution cooperatives and Wolverine Power Cooperative. Wolverine generates the power that we deliver to your homes and businesses, and we all work together to develop a resilient, diverse fuel mix that currently sits at about 20% renewable and over 60% carbon-free energy.

Then, in 2023, Michigan passed the Clean Energy & Jobs Act, which requires all Michigan utilities to provide 100% clean energy by 2040. This called for some creative innovation yet again.

I’m excited to announce that we will not only meet that standard, but we will do it a decade early—faster and more reliably than anyone else. Thanks to Wolverine’s long-term power purchase agreement with Palisades Nuclear Power Plant (set to reopen next year) and its continued development of utility-scale renewables, we are well-positioned to navigate the ever-changing energy landscape.

While this huge milestone deserves celebration, we must keep the issue of reliability at the forefront of our industry. The ability to deliver power 24/7 remains a concern, not just for us but throughout the U.S. The nation’s grid is shifting to less reliable resources as electric demand rises. I will elaborate on that in future columns, and we have more information at teammidwest.com/reliability.

Nonetheless, Wolverine and Michigan’s electric cooperatives remain committed to serving our communities, and that means delivering reliable power. With nuclear being the most reliable form of electricity out there, having Palisades in our tool belt is a huge win, and we will continue to do everything we can to provide service you can count on.

Once again, Michigan’s electric cooperatives not only light the way—they lead it.