BLP Renewable Energy
The sources of renewable energy in the GHBLP power supply portfolio include participation in the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) Landfill Gas Project, MPPA’s Beebe 1b and Pegasus wind purchases, and MPPA’s Assembly Solar I, Assembly Solar II, Calhoun County Solar Project, and the newly developed Brandt Woods Solar Project.
These purchases utilize landfill gas, wind, and solar for electric power generation from a variety of locations in Michigan. Renewable energy purchases now account for approximately 26% of total annual energy purchases.
Michigan Public Act 235
In November 2023, the State of Michigan voted Public Act 235 into law. This act requires that an electric provider shall achieve a renewable energy credit portfolio of 15% of energy sold through 2029, 50% from 2030 through 2034, and 60% from 2035 and thereafter. To meet these requirements, GHBLP will retire the renewable energy credits from the portfolio at the state mandated levels. By acting early and continuing to make incremental investments in renewable energy projects, GHBLP can bank the excess renewable energy credits and use them in future compliance years. Additionally, in December 2024, GHBLP entered into a power purchase agreement that provides approximately 27,692 renewable energy credits per year from 2027 through 2035. Under the current forecast, the GHBLP will be in compliance with the state requirements through 2036.
The following detail the GHBLP portion of renewable energy projects through power purchase agreements with our joint action agency.
MPPA Energy Services Project (solar purchases)
- Assembly Solar I: 4.68 MW of installed capacity (10,500 MW/h annually of energy)
- Assembly Solar II: 3.87 MW of installed capacity (5,800 MWh annually of energy)
- Calhoun Solar: 5.58 MW of installed capacity (13,700 MWh annually of energy)
- Brandt Woods Solar: 2.20 MW of installed capacity (4,400 MWh annually of energy)
Two additional solar projects have signed power purchase agreements but will not be constructed until the end of 2025 and 2026 respectively which are:
- Whitetail Solar: 2.15 MW of installed capacity (3,700 MWh annually of energy)
- Hart Solar: 4.30 MW of installed capacity (7,600 MWh annually of energy)
MPPA Energy Services Project (wind purchases)
- Beebe Wind: 2.30 MW of installed capacity (approximately 5,800 MWh annually of energy)
- Pegasus Wind: 6.10 MW of installed capacity (approximately 17,500 MWh annually of energy)
MPPA Landfill Gas Project
- In 2008, the GHBLP joined the Michigan Public Power Agency’s (MPPA) Landfill Gas Project to purchase up to 3.20 MW of landfill gas generation capacity in response to PA 295 (20,000 MWh annually of energy).
