The Rural Electrification Administration was created in 1935 to help farmers receive power at prices they could afford. Michigan saw its first Rural Electric Cooperative come online in 1937. The state actually had six coops start operations that year.

Michigan now has 11 electric cooperatives statewide to power communities and provide power to 300,000 members.

Rural electric cooperatives in Michigan

Map of Michigan rural electric cooperatives service areas

Source: Mackinac.org

*Not pictured: Spartan Renewable Energy

Groundwork is currently prioritizing four Rural Electric Cooperatives:

Learn more about Cherryland Electric (Distributor Cooperative)

Learn more about Great Lakes Energy (Distributor Cooperative)

Learn more about Presque Isle Electric & Gas (Distributor Cooperative)

Learn more about Wolverine Power (Generator and Transmission Cooperative)

Rural electric cooperatives that we are engaging

Wolverine Power is what’s known as a "generator and transmission" cooperative, while Cherryland, Great Lakes Energy, and Presque Isle Electric & Gas are known as distributor cooperatives. This means Wolverine Power produces and transmits all the power that the three other cooperatives distribute to their members.

We also support some RECs ad-hoc, such as Cloverland in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Learn more about Cloverland Electric!

Michigan just saw its hottest winter on record, and we know that it’s only going to get hotter with the climate crisis. While this is an immense problem, it also provides an opportunity to not go back to the way things were, but to create a future that builds connected and resilient communities. Being in the Great Lakes State and having access to 21% of the world’s surface fresh water, we have an opportunity and an obligation to take care of our resources for ourselves and for future generations.

The good news is that we’re starting to take action here in Michigan. In 2022, the MI Healthy Climate Plan was introduced. It is Michigan’s pathway to reduce dangerous pollution in our air and water, improve our energy reliability, create jobs, and transition Michigan to 100% carbon-free clean energy.

Following that, in November 2023, the Michigan House and Senate passed the Clean Energy & Jobs Act—historic clean energy legislation that is putting our state on the path to achieve these new goals. Key goals of the legislation are:

• Require Michigan’s energy to come from 50% renewable sources by 2030 and 60% by 2035,
• Expand access to energy efficiency programs like rooftop solar with dedicated spending to low-income communities, and
• Authorize the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to regulate big energy utility companies on a broader array of issues that affect residents.

Throw in the once-in-a-generation federal funding opportunity available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Michigan has an opportunity and the responsibility to lead in the nation's transition to clean, local energy.

This means that your co-op may be the single best place in your community to make the change to clean energy happen quickly. From economic development to growing local jobs to saving low income families money, to bringing clean energy that helps solve the climate crisis for our kids, engaging in your local co-op is a great way to make a difference.

We’ve seen an increase in gas prices due to international politics and more severe and longer power outages by privatly owned utilities (such as Consumers and DTE) due to increased severe weather and an unwillingness to adapt to this new reality. By encouraging local cooperatives to adopt more local clean energy solutions, we can have a more reliable and affordable grid in northern Michigan that will make our communities more resilient to the changes to come.

As a member of a cooperative, you are also an owner. That means you get to have your voice heard at member meetings, share in profits made, and vote for the Board of Directors. Every year, a cooperative has two or three Board of Director seats up for election. If you are a member of a cooperative, you can encourage your cooperative to support local clean energy development for a stronger, more resilient grid by voting for clean energy candidates in your local cooperative!

Further, these aren’t statewide or national elections that are decided by 10s of thousands of votes; over 72% of cooperatives have less than 10% of their members vote in elections. We’ve seen some local Board of Directors races even come down to less than 10 votes! That means your vote can have a huge impact in who gets to represent you and the direction your cooperative takes.

Rural co-op voting rates

Look up when you can vote for your Board of Directors! Information is available here for Cherryland Electric, Great Lakes Energy, and Presque Isle Electric & Gas.

Further, some cooperatives have community solar/wind credits, such as Cherryland’s Community Solar program. In this program, you purchase a panel subscription (or ten!) to the SpartanSolar community array and receive bill credits for your share of the solar array’s output. Check to see if your cooperative has a program like this for you to opt into!