Renewable natural gas plant request withdrawn

THREE OAKS — Shortly before the Three Oaks Township Planning Commission was scheduled to consider a Special Land Use permit to allow the development of a renewable natural gas plant along South Basswood Road during its Feb. 25 regular meeting, the following was posted on the township website:

Please take note that the Three Oaks Township Planning Commission meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 has been cancelled due to a lack of agenda items.

Applicant Archaea Energy has voluntarily withdrawn its application for special land use and site plan approval to construct a renewable natural gas plant at 19611 and 19649 Basswood Road. Because this application was the only item on the agenda, the Planning Commission chair has cancelled the meeting.

The Three Oaks Township website also contained a link to a letter from Archaea Energy (A BP Company) to the Planning Commission that reads as follows:

Dear Commissioners:

On behalf of Archaea Energy, regarding the Application for Special Land Use on property owned by FLL Inc., I respectfully

withdraw the Application for Special Land Use for a Renewable Natural Gas Plant at 19649 and 196111 Basswood Road

(Parcel Nos. 11-20-0021-0013-06-0 & 11-20-0021-0013-02-7). I’ve attached a copy of the original application for your

reference. I anticipate no further action on these properties currently.

We’d like to thank the Commission for its consideration in this matter. Please contact me directly with any additional

question.

Sincerely,

Paul “Butch” Frey

Regional External Affairs Manager

Archaea Energy

The Special Land Use permit had been requested by Forest Lawn Landfill Inc. in conjunction with Lightning Renewables LLC/Archaea Energy, Inc. The proposed site for the plant (which would have converted gases from the closed Forest Lawn Landfill into natural gas) is located across Basswood Road from the landfill.

Two public hearing were held on the issue in February and June of 2024, and at both sessions a parade of citizens spoke mostly in opposition to the Special Land Use (SLU) permit being approved.

“Planning Commission, please don’t let this in our community. We now have a very nice and quiet area,” one citizen said during the June 25 hearing.

Several others mentioned the potential for a drop in property values, the threat of noise, the incompatibility of what they see as an industrial facility in a rural area filled with wetlands, and the possible negative impact on tourism.

During the February 2024 hearing, comments such as “We don’t want this” and “This isn’t going to benefit any of us” drew applause.

An open house featuring informational stations on various aspects of the proposed RNG plant (as well as the pipeline that would carry natural gas from the facility and the Forest Lawn Landfill) was held on June 20, 2024, in Three Oaks.

During the open house, Archaea Energy COO Steven Boor said the renewable natural gas plant is designed to capture, collect and clean landfill gas, remove contaminants and turn it into a pipeline-quality fuel that can be used across the country.

The $10 million renewable gas plant was expected to operate for about 20 years.