Across Michigan, electric cooperative members are showing sustained interest in renewable energy, and their cooperatives are responding.

Guided by member feedback and a commitment to creative, flexible, and accessible options, Wolverine Power Cooperative and its distribution members have steadily expanded renewable energy programs that give co-op member owners more choice in how their electricity is produced. We are excited to announce the next phase in our member-driven approach to offer another 10 MW opportunity for distributed renewable energy projects.

A Program Built to Grow with Members
Wolverine launched the first phase of its renewable energy programs in 2017, committing 10 megawatts (MW) of capacity. When member interest quickly exceeded expectations, the Wolverine Board approved a second 10 MW phase in 2018.

Together, those first two phases allowed approximately 800 co-op members, including families, farms, and businesses from across co-op service territory, to participate in renewable energy in ways that fit their individual needs.

“Cooperatives exist to serve their members, and renewable energy is an area where members have expressed interest,” said Wolverine Chief Operating Officer Zach Anderson. “These programs were designed to give members real options, and the response has been strong, lasting, and meaningful to rural cooperative members.”

Phase 3: Meeting Continued Member Demand
Today, that interest remains strong. In December 2025, Wolverine’s Board approved a third 10 MW phase to meet continued member-owner demand. Phase 3 expands access to the same flexible renewable options that have seen strong participation to date, including:

  • Community Solar
    Members subscribe to a shared solar array and receive bill credits based on the energy produced, without installing panels at home.
  • Net Metering
    Members with their own renewable systems use what they generate and receive credits for excess energy sent back to the grid.
  • Buy-All / Sell-All
    Members install a renewable system and sell all energy it produces at a set rate, effectively becoming small power suppliers.
  • Large Renewable Options
    Designed for higher usage members, including farms and businesses, allowing larger systems, approximately 20 kW to 1 MW, to offset energy costs.

More Than Power: Building Long-Term Relationships
For electric cooperatives, renewable energy programs are about more than adding generation. They are about engagement, trust, and long-term relationships with the members they serve.

“The success of these programs shows how engaged cooperative member owners are,” Anderson said. “More than 800 members across Michigan have already participated, and we are excited to welcome even more as this next phase opens.”

With strong participation across Wolverine’s footprint and continued interest from members, renewable energy programs are becoming an increasingly important part of how cooperatives serve their communities. Cooperatives will continue listening, adapting, and growing alongside the people they are owned by.