_{J.B. Sims Generating Station in full steam, March 2007}

The J.B. Sims Generating Station was a coal-fired power plant located on Harbor Island in Grand Haven, Michigan, and was owned and operated by the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power for nearly six decades. The facility’s first two units were completed in 1961, while the more prominent 80-megawatt Unit 3 was commissioned in 1983 to meet the city’s growing energy needs. Beyond providing electricity, the plant was a vital part of local infrastructure as its waste heat was used to power the city’s downtown snow-melt system, which keeps sidewalks clear throughout the winter. The plant officially ceased operations on February 13, 2020.

The Station was named in honor of J. Bryan Sims, a pivotal figure in the history of Grand Haven’s municipal utility.

Sims served as the Superintendent of the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power (BLP) for several decades, beginning in the late 1930s. He is credited with modernizing the city’s electrical infrastructure and spearheading the transition to more robust power generation to meet the growing demands of the mid-20th century.

Under his leadership, the utility made the significant move to establish a large-scale generating presence on Harbor Island. The plant that eventually bore his name was constructed and began operations in the early 1960s, shortly after his tenure, as a tribute to his long-standing service and vision for the city’s energy independence