Continuing to work on your behalf, our privilege...

If you attended your district meeting in May, you heard reports from both HomeWorks and our generation and transmission partner, Wolverine Power Cooperative, on what has been accomplished as well as future plans to provide you with reliable electricity at an affordable price.

HomeWorks’ employees work every day to earn your trust, as they have for nearly 75 years, with that mission in mind: reliable electricity at affordable prices. And Wolverine has been our most trusted partner for nearly 60 years with that same mission, in a job that is never done, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We view working on your behalf as a privilege that we take seriously.

A puzzling decision...
So when the state of Michigan announced May 27 they would deny Wolverine’s air permit for the proposed Rogers City Clean Energy Venture, we were puzzled, and very disappointed. (See page 24 in the July issue of Country Lines). The state, in its announcement, claimed the plant was not needed due to the economic downturn and that alternatives were not fully researched. The state also said the plant was too expensive, with projected power costs of 20.5 cents per kWh, or nearly double the cooperative’s average rate today. Neither of these claims reflects the reality of what was being proposed, nor what we have been regularly communicating to you through Country Lines.

What is accurate?
It is true that developing a power plant is not easy, fast, or inexpensive. Over four years have been invested in studying alternatives and putting this plan together at a cost of $22 million. The Rogers City plant would have modestly increased our power costs while providing long-term supply reliability and price security.

Wolverine continues to diversify its power supply with wind and natural gas generation. The Rogers City plant would have complemented the plan with a state of the art coal plant, allowing some of the inefficient 50-plus-year-old plants in Michigan to be retired.

Our mission continues...
The denial of the air permit will not stop us from working on your behalf to provide reliable electricity and affordable prices. It’s a shame that political winds are getting in the way of getting that job done. If you have questions or wish to comment on the Roger City Clean Energy Venture, my direct phone line is 517-647-1281 or you can email me at mkappler@homeworks.org.