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Oliver Township adopts solar ordinances (Huron County)
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Wed, 08 Jan 2025 06:41:59 EST
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Because of the changes of control over zoning for green-energy development, some municipalities are updating ordinances.
For two years, the Oliver Township Planning Commission has been working on commercial industrial solar and on commercial industrial battery electrical storage ordinances.
Both of those ordinances were recently finished by the planning commission and given to the Oliver Township Board of Trustees to review.
The board adopted the resolution regarding solar ordinance, and the board also adopted the ordinance regarding commercial industrial electrical battery storage ordinance.
Public Act 233 that was approved by lawmakers last year took the zoning of renewable energy development out of the hands of local governments and turned that duty to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to decide on zoning projects.
Some large green-energy projects are being considered for the Thumb area. Several thousands acres have been contracted by energy companies for solar farm development.
PA 233 also included a provision that municipalities that comply with shift in zoning authority would receive a grant of $5,000 per megawatt with a ceiling of $3 million to allow the MPSC to control land development without issue.
During the meeting, Huron County Commissioner Steve Vaughan reported on some state, and county issues.
Vaughan also informed the board that Meade Township has a solar ordinance that has been adopted with nearly 600 acres contracted for solar panels.
He noted that construction of a solar farm is expected to be started this year.
