Category: Featured

2026 Annual Stakeholders Meeting Recap

Events, Featured, MPPA

A message from Patrick Bowland, CEO & General Manager at Michigan Public Power Agency.

We are grateful to everyone who attended MPPA’s 2026 Annual Stakeholders Meeting. Though the event is now behind us, the information shared is central to the work ahead for our members, our communities, and the electric power industry. Below are highlights from the meeting.

Guest Speakers

Robert Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Dragos, and Michael Zenker, Managing Director of Energy Market Analysis at NextEra Energy Resources, presented on two of the most important issues facing our industry today: protecting critical infrastructure in an increasingly interdependent world and understanding the natural gas and electric power market forces shaping the affordability and reliability of electricity. Together, the information they shared with us was timely, relevant, and directly aligned with the challenges public power utilities are navigating today.

Lee shared that growing cybersecurity risks facing electric utilities and other operators of critical infrastructure carry greater consequences due to interdependency. A concept that underscores that even the smallest utility or critical infrastructure provider can cause cascading effects across the industry if their systems are compromised from a cyber-attack.

Zenker provided an outlook on Michigan natural gas and power markets and discussed the volatility and complexity that continue to define the energy landscape. His remarks helped frame the market conditions affecting resource decisions, pricing, and long-term planning. For member communities, these trends have real implications for affordability, reliability, and the strategic choices utilities make as they respond to shifting market dynamics.

MPPA’s Presentation

MPPA CEO & General Manager, Patrick Bowland, focused on the theme, Powered by Our Advantages. He emphasized the importance of playing to public power strengths in an increasingly complex & competitive electric power business. He noted that leveraging those strengths comes from deeper collaboration with Members particularly as the line between the wholesale and retail electric business blur. The presentation also reinforced the importance of staying focused on long-term goals despite the temptation to make significant decisions in response to energy policy change.

In all, our goal is to provide our Members a venue to learn, network and celebrate. We believe through the hard work of MPPA staff we delivered on those objectives.

Thank you again to all of you who made the time to spend the day with us. If you were unable to make it 2026, we look forward to your participation in the spring of 2027.

Patrick Bowland
CEO & General Manager
Michigan Public Power Agency

Craig VanDevelde Joins MPPA as Tom Weeks Prepares for Retirement

Featured, Member News, MPPA

After nine years with MPPA and thirty-five years in the electric power industry, Wholesale Market Lead, Tom Weeks will retire in early May.

Weeks joined MPPA in 2017 and quickly became the Agency’s go-to voice in the regional wholesale power markets where our members operate electric utility systems. He represented MPPA’s interests before MISO, PJM, and federal regulators.

Weeks chaired the MISO Market Subcommittee stakeholder group, a role that gave MPPA a seat at the table in shaping market policy. Over his tenure, Weeks helped members navigate a period of notable change in wholesale power markets, keeping a steady eye on emerging risks and opportunities as the electric power industry experienced significant change.

“Tom cared deeply for our Members and fully utilized his power industry experience, knowledge, and wisdom to advocate on their behalf,” for rules, said CEO & General Manager Patrick Bowland.

To support a seamless transition, Craig VanDevelde joined MPPA as Wholesale Power Market Affairs Lead on March 2nd to ensure there was ample time for Weeks to transfer knowledge and introduce VanDevelde to important industry contacts.  VanDevelde has 12 years of energy markets consulting from Deloitte. VanDevelde will assume the Wholesale Power Market Affairs role at MPPA.

“While it is difficult to replace Tom’s knowledge and industry experience, Craig has considerable consulting experience in energy markets worldwide,” said Director of Energy Supply and Operations, Bob Lalonde. “I believe Craig will be a welcomed addition to the MPPA team and a great representative of MPPA with members and RTO stakeholder groups.”

MPPA thanks Weeks for his years of dedicated service and welcomes VanDevelde to the team!

Tom Weeks
Tom Weeks
Craig VanDevelde headshot
Craig VanDevelde

 

Zeeland BPW Promotes Holiday Power Dollars Program

Featured, Industry News, Press Releases
Zeeland, Michigan – Zeeland Board of Public Works (BPW) is bringing back their annual Holiday Power Dollars Program. The tradition that began over 30 years ago to encourage homeowners to decorate the exterior of their homes is back this holiday season.

“The Holiday Power Dollars Program is quite unique,” shared Andrew Boatright, Zeeland BPW’s General Manager. “In short, the program provides extra holiday cheer all while boosting our local businesses” Boatright continued.

From Thanksgiving to December 15, 2024, Zeeland BPW residential electric customers can claim $15 in free Holiday Power Dollars by visiting zeelandbpw.com. These Holiday Power Dollars are redeemable at participating local businesses, where merchants receive 100% of the value of each certificate used, giving small businesses in Zeeland a holiday-season boost.

Boatright adds, “What started as a way to offset the cost of lighting yard cards, a long-standing Zeeland tradition, has turned into so much more and brought so much joy to this town we love.”

In addition, BPW is hosting a holiday home decorating contest on Facebook. Residents can submit photos of their outdoor decorations for a chance to win additional Holiday Power Dollar certificates (rules and regulations apply; see website for more details).

Holiday Power Dollars are available from November 28 through December 15 and may be spent at participating businesses through January 31, 2025. For more information, visit zeelandbpw.com/powerdollars.

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Zeeland BPW Community Grant Program

Featured, Industry News, Press Releases

ZEELAND, MI – April 2024 – The Zeeland Board of Public Works (Zeeland BPW) is excited to announce the revival of its Community Grant Program for the spring season. This initiative underscores Zeeland BPW’s commitment to supporting and fostering community development while ensuring the City of Zeeland continues to thrive for generations to come.

The Community Grant Program, offering reimbursement grants totaling up to $25,000, aims to channel resources back into the community, fueling projects that enhance the quality of life for residents.

“We are thrilled to reintroduce the Community Grant Program, which serves as a testament to our dedication to the vibrant community of Zeeland,” said Andrew Boatright, General Manager of the BPW. “This initiative provides a unique opportunity for schools, municipalities, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, which we serve through water or electric services, to realize their innovative ideas and contribute to the betterment of our shared environment.”

Starting April 1 through May 3, 2024, interested parties are invited to submit their applications for consideration. Eligible applicants are encouraged to showcase their proposals, outlining how they plan to utilize Community Grant funding to positively impact the community.

“We encourage all eligible entities to seize this opportunity to collaborate with us in making a tangible difference in our community,” added Boatright. “Together, we can foster a culture of progress and prosperity that reflects the values of Zeeland.”

To learn more about the Community Grant Program and its application process, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official Zeeland BPW website at zeelandbpw.com/community-grant.

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Zeeland BPW Boosts Holiday Cheer with Power Dollars

Featured, Industry News, Press Releases

Zeeland, Michigan – Zeeland Board of Public Works (BPW) announces the return of its annual Holiday Power Dollars Program.  The tradition that began over 30 years ago incentivizes residential electric customers to decorate the exterior of their homes for the holidays. 

Starting on November 23rd, $15 in Holiday Power Dollars can be claimed online by all of our electric customers. “The Holiday Power Dollars Program is quite unique,” shared Andrew Boatright, Zeeland BPW’s General Manager. “In short, the program provides extra holiday cheer,” Boatright continued.

“Holiday Power Dollars can be used at participating businesses in Zeeland,” said Kate Chrisman, the Accounting and Finance Manager at Zeeland BPW. “I can’t think of a better way to support our area during the Holidays. Power Dollars encourages folks to decorate and gives our local businesses a boost.”

Residential electric customers can receive their Holiday Power Dollars by completing the online form. Digital Holiday Power Dollars can either be printed or saved to a smartphone. Participating merchants will scan the QR code to redeem the certificate and will receive 100% of the certificate’s value. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Boatright adds, “What started as a way to offset the cost of lighting yard cards, a long-standing Zeeland tradition, has turned into so much more and brought so much joy to this town we love.” 

As an added bonus this year, the BPW is holding a home decorating contest on Facebook as well. Homeowners can submit a photo of their outdoor decorations for a chance to win additional Holiday Power Dollar certificates (rules and regulations apply, see website for more details).

Power Dollars are available from Nov. 23 through Dec.10 and can be spent through Jan. 31, 2024. Visit zeelandbpw.com/powerdollars for more information.

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