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Arbela Planning Commission Denies Request for Solar Farm
Mary Drier/Mike Kaufman
Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:23:57 EDT
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The Arbela Township Planning Commission met last night to review a request to develop a commercial-scale solar farm in the township.
The commission denied the request made by Ranger Power LLC for special land use permits and the site plan for the proposed development of the Birch Valley Solar farm.
The solar farm's development would involve 1,540 acres of which 923 acres would be used for the solar panels. The rest of the acreage for the solar farm would be the fenced in area around the panels.
The township's hall was crowded with those who are against developing a solar farm and others who support its development.
Those who are opposed to solar development are concerned about the number of acres of farmland it takes out of agricultural production, and the belief that damaged solar panels could cause environmental contamination of the soil.
Those who support green-energy development point to the benefit of having a clean energy source, the revenue it generates, and the need for more electrical power.
Some representatives of the Birch Valley Solar have attended meetings to explain their proposed 170-megawatt (MW) solar project that is being developed, and the benefits of solar power on the environment along with the positive impact of additional revenue it brings.
The next step for the solar company is to turn to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for approval.
Getting the MPSC's approval should not be an issue as lawmakers and the governor drafted and approved the resolution to give the MPSC the authority to approve and/or disapprove green energy development.
The township had revised and tightened its solar ordinance and regulations a few months ago, but that didn't matter due to the MPSC having zoning authority.
As an added incentive not to fight green energy development, the state is offering municipalities a compliance incentive of $5,000 per megawatt with a ceiling of $3 million to allow the MPSC to control land development without an issue.
