GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — The Grand Haven Board of Light and Power (BLP) added 2.2 megawatts (MW) to its sustainable energy portfolio on Wednesday. 

The addition came as Brandt Woods Solar, a solar array in Calhoun County, entered into the commercial operation. 

The Grand Haven BLP partnered with the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) to contract enough energy to power about 528 homes each year in the community. 

The project was developed by AES, a leading renewable energy developer and global energy company. 

“Brandt Woods Solar is another example of MPPA members making long-term commitments to get new renewable resources built in Michigan,” said Patrick Bowland, CEO & general manager of MPPA. “We appreciate the efforts of AES in bringing this impressive project to commercial operation.”

Rob Shelley, Grand Haven BLP’s general manager, said this new development is the fourth solar project in the company’s power supply portfolio. 

In addition to this, he said they’ve made commitments for two upcoming solar projects that are scheduled to be completed at the end of 2025 and 2026, respectively. 

“Our strategy continues to be making incremental investments across many different renewable energy projects to control risk and protect our customers,” Shelley said. “As we continue building this renewable energy portfolio, we are doing so in balance with reliability and affordability.”

Grand Haven BLP joined 12 other public power utility providers across Michigan on a combined 25 MW power purchase agreement through MPPA. 

The company first signed on for the project in 2021 and the project reached commercial operation on March 19, 2025. Solar development can take several years due to contracting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals and site development. 

According to Grand Haven BLP, utilities across the state are hard at work to meet or exceed Michigan’s renewable energy standards that were recently established by clean energy legislation. 

“Our community has now made considerable investments in renewable energy over the past decade with our power purchase commitments in solar, landfill gas and wind power projects,” said Chairman of the Board Mike Westbrook. “We are well-positioned to meet the renewable energy mandates from the State and the Brandt Woods Solar Project is an excellent addition to our power supply portfolio.”