Michigan townships receive $8.1 million in grants for solar power projects

LANSING, Mich.— Millions of dollars in grants have been awarded to Michigan townships to help fund solar projects.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced the fourth round of Renewables Ready Communities Awards (RRCA). This round will support deployment of 1,836 megawatts (MW) of solar power projects – enough clean energy to power more than 1,830,000 Michigan households and businesses.

“Michigan’s Renewables Ready Communities Awards continue to support local communities and our prosperous, healthy, clean energy future,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “These awards will enable communities to invest where they see needs in infrastructure, public safety, and more, while accelerating the build-out of affordable green power to hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents.”

The program aims to speed the build-out of large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and storage by providing these incentives for communities that permit and host the projects. RRCA grants are provided in addition to the tax revenue and community benefits already received by host communities.

The new fourth-round awards total $8,132,500 and support eight local units of government for the following projects:

• $2,495,000 to Lee Township in Calhoun County for the Sunfish Solar 1 project and $1,545,000 for the Sunfish Solar 2 project.
• $1,000,000 to Bethel Township in Branch County for the Branch Solar project.
• $750,000 to Watertown Township in Sanilac County for the Watertown Solar project.
• $625,000 to Parma Township in Jackson County for the Jackson County Solar project.
• $600,000 to Hart Township in Oceana County for the Hart Solar project.
• $570,000 to Meade Township in Huron County for the Silver Creek Solar Park project.
• $297,500 to Barry County for the Spring Creek Solar project.
• $250,000 to Bethany Township in Gratiot County for the Gratiot Solar Project.

Including the new round, awards through the program total more than $20.56 million to 29 counties, cities, and townships across the state’s two peninsulas that are hosting enough solar and battery storage to power approximately 4.3 million households.