As we wrap up Public Power Week 2024, we are in awe of our community. We celebrated this week, along with 2,000 other community-powered, not-for-profit electric utilities that collectively provide electricity to 49 million Americans. To learn more about the benefits of being a public power utility, visit zeelandbpw.com/public-power Uniquely, this year we had the opportunity to partner with the Michigan Municipal Electric Association (MMEA) to send lineworkers to Orlando, Florida to provide mutual aid for Hurricane Milton. We also invited our community to celebrate through our first annual Public Power Open House and by bringing back our elementary coloring contest.
Mutual Aid Support
Being a public power utility allows us to quickly and efficiently lend a hand to our fellow utilities by offering mutual aid for our fellow municipal partners in various areas. On Tuesday, October 8, a combined crew made up of lineworkers from Zeeland BPW, Holland BPW, and Grand Haven Board of Light & Power headed south to stage for Hurricane Milton. As devastating as the reason for their travels, we are proud to be a public powered utility who can provide immediate relief for our partners.
Public Power Open House
This year, our team pulled off our first ever Public Power Open House. What will surely become a staple in the festivities, we were able to meet and have conversations with our neighbors, share information about being a public power utility, and overall have a lot of fun! From photo opportunities to our Van de Graaff generator (which really had folks hair standing up!), to treats and giveaways, it was a great chance to highlight why we love being locally powered. 
Coloring Contest
In partnership with the Michigan Municipal Electric Association (MMEA), we held a coloring contest for our local 1st-4th grade students. Our incredible staff coordinated delivering coloring sheets to and from the schools for the contest, as well as including downloadable files available on on website so that any local student could participate. 
Taking home our grand prize goodie basket was Grace of Adams Elementary (pictured above). Individual grade winners include Ashlyn (Adams Elementary, 4th grade), Ty (Adams Elementary, 3rd grade), Vivian (Innocademy, 2nd grade), and Kylee (Innocademy, 1st grade). The kids really showed off their creative chops this year and we were so impressed with their creativity—and grateful to have this as an opportunity to share with our youngest minds about what being a public power utility means. 
