KALAMAZOO, MI — All of Kalamazoo’s city-owned buildings will run on solar and wind power in 2028.

City commissioners unanimously approved a 20 year contract with Consumers Energy for renewable electricity during its Monday, Sept. 16 meeting. The city will begin using renewable energy and making payments in 2028.

Over 20 years, the program will cost the city about $29,240,501 and offset an estimated 360,514 metric tons of carbon emissions, Public Services Director James Baker said during a Sept. 3 presentation.

RELATED: Kalamazoo considers taking city buildings solar in 2028

Experts said they expect the cost of electricity to increase in the future. At a fixed rate of 15.8 cents per kilowatt hour — 6.4 cents more per kilowatt hour than the city currently pays — Kalamazoo would save about $6.3 million over 20 years.

The city’s investment will support the construction of renewable energy infrastructure throughout the state, according to the presentation.

Essential city government activities like running traffic lights and water treatment facilities produce about 50,053 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, according to the 2022 Community Sustainability Plan.

Carbon dioxide, a “greenhouse gas” that traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere, is released when burning fossil fuels like coal and oil.

In order to reach its goal of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions without disrupting these services, the city needs to commit to renewable energy at a utility scale, Kalamazoo Sustainability Planner Justin Gish said.

It would take more than 200 acres of solar panels in open, sunny fields and on rooftops to meet the city’s electricity needs, Gish said.

Landfills are often a good option for solar arrays — the city’s largest is only 60 acres. Anything more would require removing trees.

Joining the program also offers greater reliability, Gish said. In the case of a storm or damage to infrastructure in one area, resources in other parts of the state would still be able to generate electricity for the city of Kalamazoo.

Nine other West Michigan businesses have signed on to the program, including the city of Grand Rapids, said Ryan Buchinger, Senior Energy Solutions Manager at Consumers Energy.

The contract, does not include residential customers, Gish said. Homeowners and developers have the option to install solar panels on their property in the city of Kalamazoo.

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