Opponents of a proposed 1,500-acre solar array in Wexford County are celebrating after the local planning commission made a key decision last night.
Facing a crowd of local residents — the majority of whom were against the project — the Wexford Joint Planning Commission unanimously recommended against a zoning amendment that would’ve pushed the plan forward.
This story is made possible through a partnership between Interlochen Public Radio and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Commissioner Mark Woodward said the amendment, which would have allowed utilities on land zoned for agriculture and forest production, was “too broad” and could open up the area for other unintended uses.
Residents in the crowd thanked the commission after the vote as applause rang out.
Because the vote was a recommendation to the nine townships under the Wexford Joint Planning Commission’s jurisdiction, each township board will vote on the amendment next. A simple majority would approve or deny the amendment.
Michigan State Sen. Michele Hoitenga — who grew up in the area — said she was at the meeting to support her constituents against the project. Hoitenga said solar panels would have changed the rural landscape.
“People who have moved here, moved here for a reason. They moved here because it’s country, it’s rural. They see the cornfields. And so it’s almost like they’re getting duped,” Hoitenga said. “They came here for privacy, for beauty and the rural land.”
At least 20 people against the proposed project spoke during the meeting’s public comment, including some who were not local to the area. Concerns centered on how a loss in productive farmland would shake up the community and region. Some said they support solar energy, but disagree with how the project would use farmland.
“There are hundreds of places to put solar panels but only one place to grow food. And that is on farmland,” said Scott Ankerson, a Wexford Township resident.
Lyla Hollis, a clean energy specialist for the nonprofit Groundwork Center, spoke in support of the amendment and said renewable sources of energy are necessary as oil and gas markets continue to fluctuate.
“There is no perfect energy source but as energy demand continues to rise, rural communities have the opportunity to thoughtfully site renewable energy that protects farmland, supports farmers and preserves the character of our communities,” Hollis said.
Some residents were concerned with how land ownership in the area has opened up the community to potential large-scale development.
The majority of the land that the project’s developer Ranger Power has proposed in their early plans is owned by Pinnacle Heartland Operating Company LLC. Parcel data from Wexford and Grand Traverse counties lists the company as owner for several hundred acres around Buckley.
The land has been leased back to some farmers, and mirrors a national trend of shifting ownership as land prices rise due to demand for housing, renewable energy projects or data centers.
About 1.6 million acres of farmland have disappeared in the Midwest from 2001 to 2021, according to a University of Illinois study. Infrastructure development drove more than half of this reduction. Michigan has already lost more than 50,000 acres in farmland since 2000.
Darren Albrecht, a resident and zoning administrator in nearby Grant Township, said the trend is worrying.
“It’s not the farmer’s fault. They work hard to try to keep the land, they don’t want to sell their land,” he said. “But over the years, they can’t make money, so they have to sell their land. This outfit leases it back to them to use. So shame on us as a society that we’ve turned our back on our farmers.”
While residents against the project saw Monday’s meeting as a win, some acknowledged that the fight isn’t over.
Under a new 2023 state law, renewable energy developers looking to site large projects can apply to the state for approval. Public Act 233 limits the ability of local governments to reject large renewable energy projects under certain conditions, and was meant to support the state's clean energy mandates.
Drew Vielbig, director for development at Ranger Power, previously told IPR that the company prefers the local permitting process. Vielbig did not respond in time for comment about Monday’s decision by the planning commission. Representatives for the Chicago-based company planned to be at Monday’s meeting, but storms in the Midwest delayed travel plans.
Catherine Kaufman, an attorney at the municipal law firm Bauckham Thall, is working with the commission and explained the path ahead under Public Act 233 during the meeting. The law firm works on renewable energy with municipalities.
Kaufman said that the commission may need to more thoroughly explore a compatible ordinance under the state law for future renewable energy projects.
“The state law has taken away some of your authority under zoning or preempted it to some extent,” Kaufman said. “It’s not as easy as saying ‘I don’t want it’ anymore.”
