Finding an electrical power plant for sale is significantly different from buying traditional real estate. These are considered infrastructure assets or Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and are sold through institutional M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) channels rather than public listings.
As of early 2026, here are the primary opportunities for power plant ownership in Michigan.
1. Operational Power Plants (Gas & Cogeneration)
These are cash-flowing assets that sell power to the grid or to nearby industrial users (steam).
- Ludington Cogeneration Facility: This 125MW gas-fired plant has seen historical trades between private equity groups (like Rockland Capital). It remains a key example of the type of mid-sized asset a private corporation can own.
- Midland Cogeneration Venture (MCV): While recently securing long-term contracts through 2040, ownership stakes in this massive facility (the largest of its kind in the US) are occasionally traded among institutional infrastructure funds.
- Kalkaska CT Project: A 55MW simple-cycle natural gas plant. Ownership is currently structured through the Michigan Public Power Agency, but undivided interests in such “peaker” plants are the standard model for corporate energy investments.
2. “Ready-to-Build” (RTB) Renewable Plants
In 2026, the most common “sale” is a project that has land, permits, and an interconnection agreement but hasn’t been built yet.
- Sunfish Solar 2 (Calhoun, MI): A 360MW solar project slated for late 2026 operation. Projects of this scale are often sold by developers (like Invenergy or NextEra) to corporations looking for tax equity investments.
- Washtenaw Solar Energy Center: A 150MW proposed site. These “project companies” are frequently listed on private energy clearinghouses like Cleanview or EnergyNet.
3. Decommissioned “Repowering” Sites
If your goal is to buy a site with existing heavy electrical infrastructure (transformers, grid connection) to build something new, look at retired coal sites.
- J.H. Campbell Plants (West Olive, MI): Slated for closure by Consumers Energy. These sites are prime for “Power Plant to Parkland” conversions or redevelopment into Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
- Trenton Channel & River Rouge: DTE has historically sold retired sites to brownfield redevelopers (e.g., Commercial Development Company) who then sell parcels to industrial users or data centers.
Where to find the “Private” Listings
To see actual offering memorandums, you must register with specialized industrial brokers and M&A platforms:
| Channel | Best For |
|---|---|
| EnergyNet | Oil, gas, and renewable project auctions. |
| Surplus Record | Smaller power units, turbines, and mobile power plants. |
| M&A Firms (e.g., Mayer Brown) | Large-scale utility divestitures and corporate mergers. |
| MPSC Dockets | Watching public filings for utilities looking to sell “non-core” assets. |
Strategic Recommendation
Since you are interested in crowdfunding and real estate, the most viable path is likely Community Solar or Battery Storage.
- The Play: Buy 20–40 acres of “worthless” industrial land near a substation.
- The Value-Add: Get an Interconnection Agreement from DTE or Consumers Energy.
- The Exit: Sell the “Project” to an institutional fund or keep it and use your 70/30 split to pay investors from the monthly power sales.
Would you like me to help you draft an “Investment Teaser” specifically for a Renewable Energy Project, using the 70/30 model we built earlier?