MARQUETTE — During Tuesday’s meeting of the Marquette Board of Light and Power, the utility board voted against approving a proposal by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to use a portion of the old Shiras Steam Plant site for a marina and a building to be used for boat storage and DNR offices.

“Following decommissioning of the Shiras steam plant in 2024, the Marquette Board of Light and Power cleared the site in preparation for other municipal use for the benefit of city residents,” said John Sonderegger, MBLP Board of Directors member. “At last Tuesday’s regular meeting of the MBLP, we denied a request from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The DNR requested a portion of the site for a building and dock space for their fisheries vessel. The board action protects the site for municipal use to be determined. The board feels that allowing a portion of the site to be used by the DNR would not serve the citizens of Marquette.”

Several years ago, the MBLP conducted a survey collecting ideas from the public for what to do with the site after the power plant was decommissioned.

“One of the ideas was to have some green space and a pavilion,” said Soderegger. “It’s a beautiful waterfront property, with a commanding view of the city.”

Due to deed restrictions, the site must be used for municipal purposes, meaning that it cannot be sold for real estate development.

“Although the power plant is gone, the site contains an electrical sub-station as well as a commercial dock that will remain,” said Sonderegger. “The site can not be sold or used for any non-municipal purpose. In 2025 the site was used to stage materials used in construction of the now completed second interconnection with the MISO electric power grid.”

The second interconnect is a MBLP project completed in March, which created an additional connection to the greater transmission grid, providing a more reliable source of power.

“In 2025, the MBLP solicited ideas for the site and a number of ideas were submitted but no action has been taken,” said Sonderegger. “Any decisions will be city-wide and will include the city planning and the city commission. The Marquette Board of Light and Power holds monthly meetings open to the public.”

“I think we did the right thing as a utility to keep this for municipal uses rather than simply give over a big parcel for a state function,” said Soderegger.

More information about the MBLP is available at mblp.org

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.