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Zeeland BPW review of IRP finds growing capacity need; Board weighs MPPA behind-the-meter options
Summary
Staff presented nFront's final Integrated Resource Plan showing potential open capacity growing from about 30 MW in 2030 to as much as 125 MW by 2050; the Board discussed three ownership models for local generation and next steps with MPPA's behind-the-meter project.
BPW staff summarized the final Integrated Resource Plan developed by nFront Consulting and described implications for Zeeland's long-term power supply.
Power Supply & Market Operations Manager/Utilities Manager Designee Josh Mulder said the IRP modeled an increasing open capacity position as Zeeland's load grows and legacy units retire, with modeled needs rising from approximately 30 megawatts in 2030 to as much as 125 megawatts by 2050. Staff said relying exclusively on local generation tends to be a higher-cost strategy, while participation in larger shared thermal resources or aggregated MPPA projects can reduce costs and diversify risk.
Staff reviewed three ownership models for a potential local resource: locally/member-owned (Zeeland sole owner), joint ownership with MPPA (tenants-in-common) and MPPA-owned (MPPA financing and owning the project with member offtakes). Each model has trade-offs for financing cost, administrative complexity and concentration risk; staff urged that near-term steps preserve flexibility while MPPA completes Phase 2 modeling.
MPPA's behind-the-meter generation initiative has a multi-phase timeline: Phase 2 (2026) modeling and site analysis, Phase 3 (2027) contracting and permitting if recommended, and Phase 4 (2028—2029) construction to be operational by 2030. MPPA indicated a decision to develop new power-supply resources should be executed by Q1 2027 to meet a 2030 in-service objective. Staff plan to release the final IRP report on or before June 5, 2026, and to convene a special mid-June meeting with the City Council and nFront to review findings and next steps.
