Renewable Energy - Lowell Light and Power

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is electricity that comes from sources that produce little or no emissions. Such unlimited, naturally replenished sources include sunlight, wind, waves, geothermal (heat from the Earth), biomass (organic matter) and landfill gas.

What are the Benefits of Renewable Energy?

A variety of benefits come from the use of renewable energy, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, lower levels of air and wastewater pollutants and a decreased reliance on non renewable energy sources, such as coal, oil natural gas and nuclear energy.

Voluntary Green Pricing Program

You have likely read about where we get our power supply. You may not know, however, that all Lowell Light & Power customers have the ability to choose the amount of electricity purchases that come from renewable sources through our Voluntary Green Pricing Program. Learn more in the FAQ’s below.

What is the Voluntary Green Pricing Program (VGP)?

Public Act 342, Section 61 requires that an electric provider offer its customers the opportunity to participate in a voluntary green pricing program. Under the VGP, the customer can specify, from the options made available by the electric provider, the amount of electricity attributable to that customer that will be renewable.

Is there an additional cost associated with this program?

Yes. Customers participating in this program will receive an additional charge per kWh, currently set at $0.01, for the specified amount of electricity that is renewable.

Once enrolled, how long do I have to remain in the VGP program?

There are no requirements on the length of time you must remain in the program. All voluntary participants will remain enrolled until you provide a written request of termination.

How much of my electricity can I elect to come from renewable energy?

You have the option of choosing 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%.

How do I enroll in the program?

Complete the enrollment form on the Michigan Public Power Association’s (MPPA) website. MPPA 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.

The information you provide will be submitted directly to Lowell Light & Power. Then, our team will enroll you in the program.

Once you’re enrolled, you’ll see a line item on your bill that shows your VGP Program pricing. If you ever have questions, you can contact LL&P customer service directly.

Is the percentage of renewable energy I elect getting delivered to my home / business directly from a renewable energy source?

Unfortunately, it is physically impossible to distinguish and deliver individual electrons to specific homes or businesses. LL&P’s electricity is generated using multiple sources such as wind, coal and solar. This generated electricity gets pushed up into the “electric grid.” The grid is a vast network of wires that transmits electricity coming from all fuel sources. By choosing green power (purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates to match your consumption) you are ensuring that renewable electricity is being delivered to the power grid on your behalf.

Additional information about Renewable Energy is coming in 2024!

Our website is currently under development. Check back for additional information about our renewable energy sources later this year.