Michigan Solar Park Adds 100 MW to State Grid
Michigan households and EV owners should check their utility's green energy and charging rate options as more solar comes online.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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DTE Energy has finished the 100-megawatt Cold Creek Solar Park in Branch County, Michigan, which began producing power and reached full operation in October 2026. The project is one of the first large sites completed under Ford's agreement to buy 650 megawatts of solar capacity through DTE's MIGreenPower program.
Why it matters
For Michigan households, the project adds clean power to the state's existing electric distribution system and feeds into the wider effort to shift how electricity is generated. Ford structured the deal around matching its Michigan assembly plants with carbon-free power, a goal that also shapes how electric vehicles built in the state are powered.
Cold Creek Solar Park sits about five miles northeast of Coldwater in Branch County and has a total generating capacity of 100 megawatts. Ford's broader agreement covers 650 megawatts of new solar, which would raise statewide solar capacity by almost 70 percent if fully delivered.
The players
DTE Energy
Michigan's largest electric utility, which built and financed the Cold Creek array through its MIGreenPower program.
Ford Motor Company
Automaker whose Michigan assembly plants are the target of its carbon-free power goal and its 650-megawatt solar purchase agreement.
The details
DTE Energy built and financed the photovoltaic panel array through its CleanVision MIGreenPower initiative, and the clean power the site produces is fed into Michigan's existing electric distribution system. Ford's agreement was designed to align with a manufacturing goal rather than simply buy a block of green energy, with a major portion directed toward powering all of its Michigan assembly plants with carbon-free sources. Ford expects to reach that milestone by the end of 2027.
Timeline
Four years ago: Ford agreed to buy 650 megawatts of solar capacity through MIGreenPower.
October 2026: Cold Creek Solar Park began production and reached full operation.
End of 2027: Ford expects its Michigan assembly plants to be matched with carbon-free electricity.
The Home Front
Michigan has a statutory goal of generating 60 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2035, and utility-scale solar projects like Cold Creek are one of the ways that target is being approached. The project also reflects a growing pattern of automakers signing direct power agreements to decarbonize manufacturing that supports the electric vehicles sold in the state.
If you are considering an electric vehicle, check whether your utility offers charging rate plans or green energy programs that match how and when you plan to charge. Keep a record of your current home electrical service details, and have a licensed electrician assess any panel or circuit upgrade before you add a charger.
The takeaway
Clean power projects like Cold Creek are adding solar to Michigan's grid and changing the energy mix that electric vehicles draw from. When weighing an EV purchase, ask your utility about green energy options and charging rates before you commit.
Further reading
For more on how carbon-free power is shaping the cars built in the state, explore our Electric Vehicles coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecoportal.
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