The City of Portland – Board of Light and Power Adds 300 KW to Renewable Energy Portfolio

Through a partnership with Michigan Public Power Agency, The City of Portland – Board of Light and Power (CoP-BLP) receives enough energy from Brandt Woods Solar to power 72 homes in a year.

The CoP – BLP added 300 KW to its sustainable energy portfolio in March as Brandt Woods Solar, a solar array in Calhoun County, entered into commercial operation. In partnership with the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA), the CoP – BLP contracted for enough energy to power about 72 homes per year in the community. AES, a leading renewable energy developer and global energy company, developed the project.

Superintendent Todd Davlin shared the following about the new project:  “In November 2023, the State of Michigan updated its legislation to establish a renewable energy standard requiring utilities to source 50% of their power from renewable resources by 2030 and 60% by 2035. The CoP-BLP has a long history of using renewable energy, beginning with the Portland Dam and continuing through strategic power purchase agreements over the past several decades. This project represents another step toward complying with Michigan law and further diversifying our power supply.”

The CoP – BLP joined with 12 other public power utility providers across the state on a combined 25 MW power purchase agreement through MPPA. Solar development can often take several years for contracting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and site development. The CoP - BLP first signed on for the project in 2021, and the project reached commercial operation on March 19, 2025.

“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.”

The announcement comes as utilities across the state strive to meet or exceed Michigan’s aggressive renewable energy standards established under recently passed clean energy legislation. Through layering multiple shared investments such as Brandt Woods Solar, MPPA works with utility providers like CoP-BLP to build resources to meet those goals.

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About the CoP - BLP

The mission of the Board of Light and Power is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable power to the City of Portland and Portland Township with great service and respect for our neighbors, while being good stewards of the financial and natural resources of our community.  The BLP has been part of the community for more than a century, and our goal is to power a VIBRANT PORTLAND for another 100 hundred years.  

About MPPA

Founded in 1978, Michigan Public Power Agency is a municipal power joint action agency. MPPA was formed to undertake the planning, financing, development, acquisition, construction, improvement, operation, and maintenance of energy projects to share supply and related services to lower cost, reduce risk, and leverage expertise for the benefit of its Public Power Utility Members. More at https://mpower.org.

This announcement is from the City of Portland