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Zeeland council approves Voltus DER enrollment and backs MPPA capacity buy
Summary
The council authorized Zeeland’s Clean Water Plant to enroll assets in Voltus demand-response programs and adopted a resolution supporting an MPPA capacity purchase commitment up to 4,500 kW for planning year 2030/2031, contingent on BPW approval; potential MPPA commitment not to exceed $486,000.
Zeeland’s Common Council on July 6 authorized the city’s Clean Water Plant to participate in a Voltus Distributed Energy Resource (DER) agreement and adopted a resolution supporting a Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA) capacity purchase recommendation.
CWP Superintendent Doug Engelsman told the council the Voltus program would allow the Clean Water Plant to enroll certain electrical loads and receive compensation — staff noted a stated compensation of $12,000 starting in 2027 — while participation would remain voluntary and would not require curtailing essential public services. Engelsman recommended participation "to support electric grid reliability, demonstrate leadership in energy stewardship, and generate modest additional revenue from existing assets," according to staff materials presented at the study session.
On the MPPA item, Power Supply & Market Operations Manager designee Bob Mulder explained the MPPA is recommending that Zeeland’s Board of Public Works (BPW) participate in a bilateral capacity transaction for up to 4,500 kilowatts deliverable to MISO Local Resource Zone 7 for Planning Year 2030/2031. Staff said the purchase would represent approximately 4.5% of the BPW’s forecasted capacity requirement for that planning year and would secure roughly 25% of the BPW’s anticipated open position to reduce exposure if a proposed generation project is delayed. Mulder noted the transaction would be contingent on BPW Board approval and that, if executed, MPPA would do so on Zeeland’s behalf for a financial commitment not to exceed $486,000.
Council members voted unanimously to approve both items (Councilmember Perkins was absent). Council and staff emphasized that Voltus participation is voluntary for individual demand-response events and that the city retains discretion to protect essential services. Mulder also referenced Michigan Public Act 341 and MPPA coordination in the context of long-term resource adequacy and the BPW's Integrated Resource Plan.
The MPPA capacity commitment will proceed only if the Zeeland BPW Board of Commissioners approves the recommendation at its July 14, 2026 meeting. The Voltus contract will be executed per the approved agreement and staff direction.
