Isabella approves solar park farmland agreements, bond - The Morning Sun

Isabella approves solar park farmland agreements, bond - The Morning Sun

A solar farm in Isabella County is a step closer to construction as officials approved several farmland development agreement rights deferments and transfers.

After approving deferment periods for farmland development rights for several properties in Isabella Township, commissioners also approved a decommissioning agreement that includes a $14.9 million bond from DTE Energy that will be held in escrow in the event that the project is abandoned, a possibility county officials said is highly unlikely.

An Isabella County zoning ordinance requires the board to approve the decommissioning agreement and bond before DTE Energy can begin construction of its proposed solar project that will have a total generating capacity of 150 megawatts of power at the point of interconnection.

Consisting of roughly 227 acres of solar arrays, landscaping, collection lines and access drives, the county planning commission approved DTE’s special land use permit and site plan at a May 29 meeting.

Isabella County Community Development Director Tim Nieporte told commissioners in a July 3 memo that the agreement and bond were necessary before construction begins to guarantee the financing for the decommissioning of the project at the end of its useful life.

The decommissioning agreement requires DTE to post the bond, and the cost of decommissioning the project must be updated every five years unless the deadline falls on a periodic report date, which occur every 10 years.

Nieporte said the agreement and bond includes language that was reviewed and recommended by attorney Christopher S. Patterson of Fahey, Schultz, Burzych, Rhodes.

Properties in Isabella Township that are subject of DTE’s request are on East Jordan, North Summerton, East Beal City, North Mission, North Isabella, North Whiteville, North Crawford, North Lincoln, East Weidman and East Rosebush roads.

Included in the proposed project is solar array equipment, an electrical collection system, fencing, landscaping buffers, internal access roads, underground amenities, and other ancillary improvements, according to Isabella County Community Development.

An environmental analysis indicated the project would have minimal impact and would generate minimum solid waste, and no hazardous waste.

DTE also indicated the project has no potential to create hazards to property, and there would be no emissions or byproducts that are harmful to human health.

The proposed facility has been designed so that components that are capable of making noise are centrally located within the project and away from property lines shared with non-participating owners, according to DTE.

It also does not have the potential to cause electromagnetic interference, with inverters proposed to be at a setback of at least 500 feet from all homes, according to DTE, which also indicated the site plan conforms with the special development requirements for agricultural districts.

Public hearing set for proposed Isabella Township solar energy park