Michigan City Hits 41% Clean Energy, Sets 100% Goal by 2040

A small Michigan city is proving that ambitious climate goals aren't just talk. Traverse City Light & Power unanimously approved a comprehensive plan this week to reach 100% renewable energy by 2040, building on progress that already has the utility at 41% clean power.

The city-owned utility became Michigan's first to commit to full renewable energy back in 2018. Now they've created a detailed roadmap showing exactly how they'll get there.

Executive Director Brandie Ekren called it a "milestone moment" for what she described as an "audacious goal." The framework includes tracking real renewable energy generation, not just paper credits, ensuring the utility's progress reflects actual clean power production.

The plan centers on three key areas. First, the utility will continue shifting to wind, solar, and other clean sources while hitting a 60% renewable target by 2035. Second, TCLP will electrify its own fleet and operations to "walk the walk" on climate leadership.

The third focus aims at helping the entire community reduce emissions. That means encouraging residents to adopt electric vehicles, install energy-efficient heat pumps, and switch to cleaner heating and cooling systems that cause the majority of local emissions.

The utility is also exploring smart solutions like battery storage and time-of-use rates that reward customers for using electricity when it's cheapest and cleanest to produce. These demand-side tools help balance the grid while lowering bills.

The Ripple Effect

Traverse City's leadership is already inspiring broader change. Michigan itself now aims for 100% carbon neutrality by 2050, with Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing new initiatives this week to explore hydrogen energy hidden in the state's geology.

The state ranked sixth nationally for clean energy jobs in 2024 and leads the nation in energy sector job growth behind only Texas and California. Those thousands of new jobs show how environmental progress creates economic opportunity.

What makes this plan especially promising is its commitment to equity. TCLP pledged to ensure low-income families benefit from the transition to clean energy, not just wealthier residents who can afford solar panels and electric cars.

The utility will review progress every five years with specific metrics and dates to measure success. Board member Elysha Davila encouraged her colleagues to stay ambitious: "Not only is the original 100 percent goal exciting because it's a hard number, but it's also really ambitious."

Small cities leading the way often inspire bigger change, and Traverse City is showing the path forward works.