When I was going through treatment for breast cancer in 2024, other survivors kept reminding me to treat it like a marathon, not a sprint. They were right, I needed to pace myself for the long haul and be careful not to burn out before the finish line. But, sometimes, I also just needed to put my head down and sprint through a hard part. To be successful in the race, I needed the right mix.

The power grid is also kind of like a long-distance race. Most electricity comes from marathon runners—steady, reliable power plants designed to go the distance, providing a consistent supply of energy over time. These plants, like nuclear and coal, are great at maintaining the grid’s baseline power needs but can’t quickly adjust when the course suddenly changes.

That’s where sprinters, or peaking plants, come in. Peaking plants are built to fire up in an instant, supplying the short bursts of energy needed when demand spikes—like when an unexpected heatwave sends air conditioners into overdrive or when a winter storm forces people to crank up their heat. Through our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, Cherryland’s members own several peaking plants and the newest of those is the natural-gas-powered Alpine plant in Gaylord, built in 2016.

Historically, sprinters like Alpine were only needed 15 to 20 days a year, stepping in briefly during the toughest stretches of the race. But the course has changed. With increasing energy demand, transmission constraints, and the rise of intermittent renewable energy sources, Alpine is no longer just an occasional sprinter—it’s become an essential pacesetter for Northern Michigan’s energy race.

Instead of running for just a few peak days, Alpine is now operating upwards of 100 days a year, far exceeding expectations. During the most recent winter cold snap, when temperatures plunged and energy demand soared, Alpine ran nonstop for days at a time, ensuring that homes stayed warm, businesses stayed open, and the lights never flickered.

Simply put, we could not have kept the lights on in Northern Michigan without it.

But Alpine isn’t just critical for reliability; it’s also a financial powerhouse. In any race, a sprinter who can perform on demand is a game-changer. But a sprinter who can also fund the entire team’s training? That’s a competitive advantage.

When Alpine is called upon to support the regional grid system, we are compensated for its performance. Since it was built in 2016, Alpine has earned almost $310 million from the power market—far exceeding its $190 million construction cost. That revenue directly benefits our members, reducing our power supply costs by an average of millions of dollars per year.

By investing in Alpine, Wolverine and Cherryland didn’t just secure a reliable energy future—we built an asset that pays for itself and delivers long-term savings to the communities it serves.

As our energy mix continues to evolve, plants like Alpine prove that having the right balance of marathoners and sprinters isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. The road ahead will demand more flexibility, more reliability, and smarter investments.

The race for a sustainable, affordable, and resilient energy future isn’t about choosing between endurance and speed. It’s about making sure we have both—so we can always go the distance.