1,100 Acres of Michigan Farmland Could Be Replaced by Solar

MINDEN TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Residents in Minden Township are continuing their fight against a proposed industrial solar project that would cover roughly 1,100 acres of farmland near Lake Huron.

The project, which opponents say would span about two square miles, has been under discussion since October 2022 and is now moving through the township’s approval process.

Local residents Jackie, Jill, Jerry and Chris said the land targeted for development is currently used for crops including corn, soybeans, edible beans and potatoes. They argue the project would take productive farmland out of use for decades under a reported 20 to 30 year contract.

“You take out 1,100 acres. That’s a lot of farmland,” one resident said during an interview. “There’s farmers renting that land. They’re going to lose hundreds of acres that they need.”

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According to residents, a township survey conducted as part of a master plan process showed nearly 63 percent of respondents opposed industrial solar development. They also said a petition effort gathered 120 signatures, with 108 validated in a township of about 380 registered voters.

However, the petition was later rescinded due to what residents described as a technicality involving how addresses were written. The matter is now in appeals court, though residents said the court backlog could delay a decision for one to two years.

The proposed project includes a 185 megawatt installation, residents said. Under township rules, the application fee would be $820 per megawatt, totaling more than $150,000. Opponents claim the developer is seeking a reduced flat fee.

Concerns raised by residents include potential environmental impacts, proximity to the Black River, fire risks associated with certain soil types and the long term viability of returning the land to agricultural use.

“We don’t know what it’s going to do to water. We don’t know what it’s going to do to weather patterns,” one resident said. “There’s just a lot of concerns.”

Opponents also said portions of the township board and planning commission include individuals who have signed agreements related to the project, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest. As of the interview, residents said those officials had not recused themselves.

Township officials are scheduled to review adjustments to the fee schedule and consider aspects of the solar application at an upcoming meeting.

If approved locally, residents said the matter could move to the state level under Michigan law.

Despite the uncertainty, opponents say they plan to continue attending meetings and voicing their concerns.

“You have to stay involved,” one resident said. “We’ve attended every meeting for three years.”

The township board is expected to continue discussions in the coming weeks.