x
Breaking News
More () »

Effort to cut energy bills includes solar power, upgrades

A Michigan utility provider is taking park in a new program meant to help customers lower power bills.
Credit: Thinkstock
Solar panels on roof of a house, stock image.

A utility in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula is taking part in a pilot program to help low-income customers cut their power bills through renewable energy and energy waste reduction efforts.

Officials say Cherryland Electric Cooperative expects to help lower energy bills for 50 low-income households in the utility's six-county electric service territory. It's part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator program.

Cherryland helped identify households that did weatherization upgrades and completed a home energy assessment. Each participant gets shares in the Spartan Solar community solar array in Cadillac and will get a credit on their bills totaling about $350 per year.

The Michigan Agency for Energy provided an $80,000 grant to help support the project and has posted more details on its website.

Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WZZM 13 app now.

Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.

Before You Leave, Check This Out