| Resource Type | Report |
| Author / Source | Moksha Menghaney, Douglas Jester (5 Lakes Energy, prepared for the State of Michigan) |
| Publication Date | June 2025 |
| Location | Michigan (framework applicable nationally) |
| Initiative Type | Technology, Partnership, Program, Policy |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Staff, Board, Community Organizations |
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Long outages create added risks in rural areas. When storms leave roads blocked by downed trees and lines, help can take longer to arrive. That wait is especially hard for members who rely on power for medical devices, need refrigeration for food or medication, or struggle with extreme heat and cold. Homes on private wells are another example, since when the electric pump stops, so does the water. This guide shows how trusted local places like food pantries, churches, VFW posts, and community centers can become resilience hubs with solar, battery storage, and backup plans.
For co-ops, it offers modeled solar and battery sizes for four common hub types, a clear look at why resilience batteries rarely pay off on bill savings alone, and a proposal for utility-owned batteries at hub sites in exchange for a fixed resilience charge. A co-op can use it to partner with community organizations in its territory, size backup systems realistically, and consider whether a similar model could fit its own system. Some funding pathways it cites have changed, but the planning and sizing guidance still holds.
Key Takeaways
| › | Solar-only systems were financially viable across every modeled hub type and are worth a feasibility study at any hub. |
| › | Solar plus storage rarely pencils out on energy savings alone, but looks better once avoided outage costs are counted. |
| › | Batteries sized for outages often sit mostly charged on normal days, leaving grid value untapped unless tariffs or utility programs reward exports. |
| › | A front-of-the-meter model, where the utility owns and dispatches an onsite battery, could cut hub costs while supporting the grid. |
Implementation Considerations
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: The battery ownership proposal is framed around Michigan's PA 235 storage mandate and utility tariffs. Co-ops would need to assess how a fixed resilience charge fits their own rate design and board policy.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: Hubs need critical load mapping, microgrid islanding controls, and a load management plan. Hub networks work best with a dedicated coordinator, and smaller co-ops will likely need partners or outside technical help.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The funding section leans on IRA programs, including direct-pay tax credits, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, and MI Solar for All. This funding is not available to co-ops without an approved award, and new applicants should not rely on these pathways.
Notable Examples
- Eastside Community Network: Leads the Resilient Eastside Initiative, a Detroit network of 12 hubs with a dedicated resilience manager.
- Community Center at A.B. Ford Park (City of Detroit): New hub with 68.9 kW rooftop solar and 110 kW/220 kWh battery storage.
- United Way of South Central Michigan: Now runs the Kalamazoo and Calhoun County Response Consortiums, which coordinate agencies before, during, and after disasters.
- Webster Community Center (Micah 6 Community, Pontiac): Former school being redeveloped to host 12 organizations, funded through a blend of grants and loans.
- Clean Energy Group: Technical Assistance Fund supporting resilient power feasibility for community organizations.
- Michigan Saves: Nonprofit green bank offering bridge financing for clean energy projects.
Estimated reading time: 30+ minutes
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