Ingersoll Township Planning Commission Denies DTE Solar Park Permit in 6-1 Vote

INGERSOLL TWP. — After more than five hours of public comment, expert testimony and deliberation, the Ingersoll Township Planning Commission voted late Monday to deny DTE Energy’s request for a special use permit for its proposed solar park project.

In a 6-1 vote shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, the commission determined that DTE’s Poseyville Solar Park proposal did not meet the standards required under the township’s ordinance for a special use permit. Planning Commission Chair Suzette Loeffler cast the lone vote against the motion.

The meeting began at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, at Messiah Church and lasted about 5 1/2 hours. Township officials moved the hearing from Ingersoll Township Hall to the church, citing the expected turnout and limited capacity at the hall. More than 100 people attended, and the Midland County Sheriff’s Office was present because of heightened tensions surrounding the proposal.

The hearing was a continuation of the public hearing that began March 16 on DTE’s proposed Poseyville Solar Park project.

Over the course of the evening, the commission heard from about 30 public commenters, as well as representatives from DTE, including the project manager and a sound specialist. Commissioners also consulted with the township attorney before beginning deliberations on whether the project met the township’s special use standards.

Two of the key issues discussed by commissioners were the project’s anticipated noise levels and the layout of some of the land parcels included in the proposal, particularly diagonally positioned parcels planned for solar arrays. Commissioners ultimately found those aspects did not comply with the township ordinance.

Following deliberations, the commission voted that the standards for approval had not been met, effectively denying the special use permit request.

The proposed solar development has drawn strong public interest in Ingersoll Township for months, with dozens of residents speaking at prior hearings and many again attending Monday’s meeting as the commission reached its final decision.