Michigan's Consumers Energy and multiple solar energy developers have agreed over how Consumers Energy contracts power from third parties, opening the way for a large-scale solar build-out across the Lower Peninsula. Under this agreement, nearly four times the amount of existing solar in Michigan can be added (up to 584 Mw) by independent developers by 2023. Michigan Public Service Commission acted under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978, which requires utilities to buy renewable power from qualifying producers at or below the price the utility would otherwise pay to produce it itself, to make Consumers Energy contract with solar developers.