Michigan Public Power Agency, a municipal power joint action agency, recently announced that the White Tail Solar project has entered commercial operation, fulfilling a long-term commitment to renewable power supply in Michigan.
The project, located in Washtenaw County, began operating late in 2025 and contributes enough energy to power 6,050 homes for fourteen public power utilities sharing in the MPPA contract.
“White Tail Solar continues our commitment to helping our Members diversify & decarbonize their power supply portfolios,” said Patrick Bowland, CEO of MPPA. “Through joint action, our Members are able to benefit from economies of scale and portfolio diversification through MPPA’s participation in large-scale renewable power supply projects like White Tail Solar.”
Michigan public power utility Traverse City Light & Power on Feb. 17 said it was now receiving energy from the White Tail Solar project.
Through a power purchase agreement executed in partnership with MPPA, TCLP secured 6.6 megawatts of solar energy -- representing 26.4 % of the combined 25 megawatt public power agreement, making TCLP the largest participant in the project.
The White Tail array is rated at 140 megawatts in total capacity, with all energy contracted to Michigan’s public power utilities.
TCLP joined thirteen other municipal providers across the state in the shared 25-MW agreement, "demonstrating the continued strength of public power collaboration in delivering sustainable, cost-effective energy resources," it said.
“As the largest investor in White Tail Solar, TCLP secured 6.6 megawatts of Michigan-based solar energy for our portfolio. This investment strengthens our progress toward cleaner energy while supporting reliability and long-term cost stability for our customers,” said Brandie Ekren, TCLP Executive Director.
“This project reflects TCLP’s disciplined financial planning and thoughtful portfolio strategy,” said Karla Myers-Beman, TCLP Chief Financial Officer. “By participating at this scale, we were able to secure long-term energy pricing while balancing risk and maintaining flexibility in our broader resource mix. Investments like this are evaluated not only for their environmental value, but for their long-term benefit to our ratepayers.”
Another Michigan public power utility -- the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power -- said that it added another 2.15 megawatts to its sustainable energy portfolio as White Tail Solar entered into commercial operation.
“This new development is the fifth solar project in the BLP’s power supply portfolio,” said Rob Shelley, BLP general manager. “Our strategy has been to make incremental investments across many different renewable energy projects to control risk and protect our customers. As we continue building this renewable energy portfolio, we are mindful to balance it with reliability and affordability. To that end, we have another solar project also in the works, slated for completion near the end of 2026.”
Board Chairman Mike Westbrook said, “Our community has made considerable investments in renewable energy over the past decade with our power purchase commitments in solar, landfill gas and wind power projects. We have a lot to be proud of in our BLP by reducing local carbon emissions from power generation by over 70% from peak levels. We are well positioned to meet the renewable energy mandates from the State, and the White Tail Solar Project is another excellent addition to our power supply portfolio.”
The Zeeland Board of Public Works (BPW), another public power utility in the state, added 2.8 MW to its sustainable energy portfolio through White Tail Solar.
“Zeeland BPW has partnered with MPPA on renewable energy projects for more than a decade, and we are pleased to continue that relationship through this project,” said Robert Mulder, Power Supply & Market Operations Manager for BPW. “Projects like this support renewable energy development in Michigan and move us closer to achieving the goals established by the State, while delivering the power supply resources necessary to serve our customers.”
White Tail Solar is a collaboration with Ranger Power, a national renewable energy developer, and DESRI, a national renewable energy company that owns and operates the project.
