History of District Heating in the United States

| Chronological List of District Heating Systems in the United States |

District Heating in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The steam system in Grand Rapids was installed in 1897 to use exhaust steam from the Edison Electric Light Company. It was acquired by the Consumers Energy Company in 1915 and by Kent County in May 1986. The system was sold to Veolia Energy in 2008 and to Vicinity Energy in 2019.

The system is currently owned by Vicinity Energy.


1986 Map of Grand Rapids Steam System	2008 Map of Grand Rapids Steam System

References
1897 "The Edison Light Company Wants an Ordinance Allowing It to Sell Steam," The Grand Rapids Press, June 29, 1897, Page 4.

1897 "Edison Light Company Given Permission to Lay Steam Pipes," The Grand Rapids Press, August 3, 1897, Page 4.

1906 "No More Free Permits," The Grand Rapids Press, November 10, 1906, Page 4.
The Edison company is a distributor of electricity. In order to utilize its surplus and waste steam it made an arrangement some years ago to supply neighboring buildings with steam for heating purposes. The council gave permits to lay pipes in the streets. These permits were added to from time to time until now the Edison company does a fair-sized heating business, the pipes running in public streets and alleys. The company holding no franchise and no return is given tho city, not even the protection of citizens in their ordinary public utility rights.

2006 Brief History of the Grand Rapids Steam Heating Operation

2008 "Downtown deal picking up steam," The Grand Rapids Press, June 13, 2008, Page 1 | Part 2 |
Veolia Energy negotiating to buy the downtown steam system Kent County has owned since 1986. Price tag reportedly $2.4 million.

2023 Michigan Steam Supply Cost Recovery Report, May 3, 2023
Utilities that Provide Steam Service to Customers
DTE Electric Company 1 customer
Detroit Thermal LLC 67 customers
Lansing Board of Water and Light 155 customers
Vicinity Energy Grand Rapids 70 customers