I am an older sibling. Like many older brothers and sisters, I was excited when my sister was born and I had a new friend and playmate. As we’ve grown up, we’ve only grown closer and I love knowing that I have someone in my life who will always stand beside me through both good and hard times.

The Wolverine Power Cooperative family is kind of like that, too. Wolverine provides power supply to us, along with four other distribution co-ops in Michigan. As member-owners of Wolverine, we work together to manage power supply challenges and opportunities on behalf of those we serve back home. Together, we have weathered decades of the changing power supply landscape while keeping the lights on for electric co-op members across Michigan.

I’m excited to share with you that our little family is about to grow. Thumb Electric Cooperative (TEC) in Ubly, Michigan, will become the sixth member of Wolverine. Nestled in the heart of Michigan’s thumb, TEC embodies our same spirit of community and service. TEC has been dedicated to providing reliable, affordable electricity to its 12,000 members since 1938.

Expanding our Wolverine family offers significant advantages back home. First, there will be cost savings because sharing fixed costs across more entities helps drive your power costs down. In addition, this increases our political strength. Together, our combined geographic reach will cover 70% of Lower Peninsula counties, bolstering our influence on your behalf. With TEC in the family, we will have even greater opportunities to expand our programs and services to you.

Just like when my sister joined the family, the benefits are mutual. TEC’s members will gain access to benefits you already receive. Wolverine’s reliable, modern, and clean energy portfolio offers its members long-term certainty that is unmatched. Our commitment to the Palisades Power Plant when it restarts in late 2025, combined with our renewable energy developments, puts us on track to have the lowest carbon footprint of any utility in Michigan.

As a seasoned big sister, I am proud to welcome TEC into our network, expanding our combined Wolverine family footprint to over 300,000 electric cooperative members in the Lower Peninsula. We are excited for the journey ahead as we continue to power communities, empower members, and make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.