The House of Bargains building located at 567 Ashmun in Sault Ste. Marie will be carefully deconstructed in May. The deconstruction plan was announced last Fall due to safety concerns that could impact the surrounding community and operations of the canal which fuels Cloverland Electric Cooperative’s hydroelectric plant. Following the cooperative’s RFP bidding process last November and comprehensive review by a third party entity, Cloverland announced the bid award in February.
Cloverland has owned the property since 2016 and conducted extensive research and analysis on potential redevelopment options. According to Cloverland Electric’s President and CEO Mike Heise, preserving the building at an estimated cost of $10 to $18 million was too immense to justify to the membership.
The cooperative will retain the property for access to the canal for ongoing required maintenance. Hydroelectricity is a key factor in keeping the cooperative’s rates among the lowest for electric utilities in Michigan. Cloverland’s hydroelectric plant generates nearly 30% of renewable energy for the cooperative’s 34,000 members across the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Continual maintenance of the power canal and hydroelectric plant is a vital part of Cloverland’s infrastructure.