Great Lakes Energy Expands Renewable Energy Supply

November 9, 2015
 
Great Lakes Energy (GLE) is expanding its supply of renewable energy through the work of its power provider, Wolverine Power Cooperative (Wolverine).
Wolverine recently entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Exelon Generation for 153 megawatts (MW) of new wind generation in Michigan’s Thumb region. Construction of the new Michigan Wind 3 project is scheduled to start in spring 2016 with commercial operation by December 2016.
“By the end of next year, we expect 30 percent of the electricity Great Lakes Energy members receive will come from clean, renewable energy sources,” says Steve Boeckman, GLE President/CEO. “This will position GLE and Wolverine’s other member electric co-ops as renewable energy leaders in the state.”
Great Lakes Energy receives electricity for its members from Wolverine, a Cadillac-based generation and transmission cooperative. “Wolverine is committed to providing its members co-ops with reliable and affordable power supply,” states Zach Anderson, Wolverine’s Merchant Operations Supervisor. “This opportunity to increase Wolverine’s mix of renewable energy was possible because it is affordable, a real win-win for the members.”
Currently, Wolverine receives approximately 50 MW of wind energy from the Harvest wind farm located between Elkton and Pigeon. Wolverine will also receive 150 MW of wind energy from the new Deerfield wind energy project currently under construction in Huron County, Michigan. The addition of the Michigan Wind 3 project means Great Lakes Energy and Wolverine’s other member cooperatives expect to have more than 350 MW of wind generation by the end of 2016.