Escanaba council joins Michigan Public Power Agency as associate member to preserve energy program options

Escanaba City Council approved Resolution 25-03 to join the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) as an associate member, a move staff described as low-cost insurance to preserve options for administering the state’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) program beginning in 2026.

Administration explained that MPPA is a joint action agency formed in 1978 that offers member utilities scale advantages on projects and professional services. As an associate member the city would have access to group bidding and services for EWR administration but would not have voting rights on MPPA’s board. Staff said the associate-member annual fee is modest—about $11.80 per year—and membership is optional to use.

Councilors asked whether joining meant committing to MPPA projects or losing voting power. Staff said associate membership is optional and that the city could upgrade to full membership later if it opted to participate in specific generation or energy projects; any such participation would require a future council vote. One staff member explained, “We could opt out at any time and decide not to join, you know, not to continue but it is an annual membership.”

MPPA staff or administration also noted MPPA had recently advised that municipalities participating in the EWR program should at least be associate members. The council was told the city would decide whether to participate in MPPA-organized projects on a case-by-case basis and would return to council for approval before joining any particular project.

The motion to adopt Resolution 25-03 carried on a unanimous roll call. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Councilor Moore, Councilor Buschau, Councilor DuBois, Councilor Flock and Mayor Hamill (recorded as Mayor Hamill/Helm in the transcript).