Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in downtown Muskegon on October 14, 2006
MAREC was developed as a direct response to the growing need for alternative and renewable energy sources. The mission of MAREC is to be an international destination point for researchers and businesses developing alternative energy technologies and applications. In addition, the Center will be a leading resource for education and instruction on alternative energy.
The initial spark for the development of MAREC came in 1999 when a group of Grand Valley State University faculty and Muskegon business people conceived the idea of a research and development facility focused on alternative energy. Subsequent partnerships between the business, community, and private sectors resulted in groundbreaking for the Center in late 2002, with the facility opening its doors in November 2003.