Renewable Energy Plans in Northern Michigan Shift Focus to Private Land
RWE Clean Energy’s ambitious plan to construct a significant 200-megawatt solar energy facility near Gaylord, Michigan is now partnering with private landowners rather than utilizing state-owned land. This development follows public and legislative resistance concerning environmental repercussions.
Initial discussions about leasing state land for the project ignited concerns over potential deforestation and harm to wildlife habitats among legislators and on social media. In response, Scott Whitcomb from Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) highlighted the agency’s environmental considerations and identified 400 acres in Otsego County deemed less ecologically sensitive for possible redevelopment.
Whitcomb assured, “Our goal is certainly not to deforest Michigan, or take high-value timber out of production. We want the right thing in the right place.” His comments reflect the agency’s intent to balance renewable energy development with environmental protection.
The DNR’s plans, first covered by MLive, involved a public call for redevelopment proposals. The identified land benefits from proximity to a high-voltage transmission corridor, making it apt for energy integration, according to Whitcomb. The area includes land previously cleared or affected by natural events, alongside open fields and existing oil and gas wells.
Whitcomb noted, “We think due to those land uses and close proximity (to the transmission corridor) that this might be a good place to use for energy and another place to could purchased for forest land.” However, he emphasized a cap for such land-use leases at 4,000 acres, representing a small fraction of state-owned land.
State Representative John Roth voiced firm opposition to using state land for solar projects at the expense of forests. He argued, “I don’t know that we need state land for it when it’s also attached to a thousand acres of private farmland that’s going to be solar panels next to that area.”
With RWE deciding to proceed with private land leases, the potential state land development in Hayes Township remains uncertain. RWE’s Patricia Kakridas stated, “Ultimately, we decided to move forward with leasing property from the two private landowners for this particular project.”
Despite the shift, the 45th parallel solar project promises economic benefits, including over $15 million in projected tax revenues and increased local economic activity during its 35-year span.
Tensions between the DNR and lawmakers emerged, with Roth expressing dissatisfaction over lack of communication regarding the land-use strategy. Republican lawmakers, joined by a Democrat, criticized the DNR’s approach, citing environmental and procedural concerns. Yet, Whitcomb defended the plan, asserting its environmental advantages: “We think this is a climate benefit in this particular instance.”
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