Holland Board of Public Works Adds 11.7MW to Solar Renewable Energy Portfolio

Continuing progress on the community’s decarbonization goals, Holland BPW grows solar portfolio with11.7MW from Hart Solar through a partnership with Michigan Public Power Agency.

Holland, MI, September 24, 2026 – Continuing progress on the community’s decarbonization goals, Holland BPW added 11.7MW to its renewable energy portfolio as Hart Solar, a solar array in Oceana County, entered commercial operation. Hart Solar is the sixth solar power purchase agreement in Holland BPW’s electric portfolio. Since 2020, Holland BPW has attained 36MW of solar through its partnership with the Michigan Public Power Agency (MPPA).

Holland BPW joined with thirteen other public power providers across the state on a combined 50MW power purchase agreement through MPPA. The total array is rated at 120 MW. Projects of this scale require years to evolve from planning to operational status, involving contracting, land acquisition, regulatory approvals, and site development. Holland Board of Public Works confirmed its participation in Hart Solar in 2021, and the array began commercial operations on September 22, 2026.

“Holland BPW is proud to continue advancing decarbonization. We are growing our renewable portfolio while maintaining rates that are among the lowest in Michigan. We value our partnership with MPPA, which has enabled greater diversification of our electric portfolio. Power purchase agreements are helping us deliver on the vision of Holland’s Community Energy Plan while balancing our customer’s needs for affordable and reliable electric service,” said Dave Koster, General Manager at Holland BPW.”

“Hart Solar reflects MPPA’s long-term commitment to helping our members secure reliable, cost-effective and carbon-free power supply resources that strengthen and diversify their power supply portfolios,” said Patrick Bowland, CEO & General Manager at MPPA. “Through joint action, public power communities of all sizes can share in the economies of scale needed to make utility-scale renewable projects like Hart Solar a practical, long-term resource for the customers and communities they serve.”

Hart Solar is the third solar project to enter commercial operation through MPPA in the past year, following Brandt Woods Solar in Calhoun County and White Tail Solar in Washtenaw County. Since November 2023, when Michigan Public Act 235 was signed into law, utilities across the state have continued developing plans to meet the statewide renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030 and 60% by 2035. Joint action projects like Hart Solar help local utilities like Holland Board of Public Works to set a plan to meet these standards.

About Holland Board of Public Works – HBPW is a community-owned, not-for-profit utility enterprise providing electric generation and distribution, water, wastewater treatment, and broadband services. HBPW has over 32,000 business and residential customers. The purpose of HBPW is to enrich life in West Michigan's greater Holland area by providing local, reliable, efficient and essential utility services. HBPW is committed to enhancing the economic and environmental vitality of the community, providing the most reliable and affordable utility services possible through innovation, efficiency and professional operations.

About MPPA – Founded in 1978, Michigan Public Power Agency is a not-for-profit joint action agency who works collectively with municipal-owned utilities to share energy supply and related services to lower costs, reduce risks, and leverage expertise. More at mpower.org.