Rural community grapples with DTE’s plan for massive solar project in Southeast Michigan

IOSCO TWP., MI — Emotions ran high at a packed township meeting Thursday on a massive proposal for utility-scale solar energy in rural Livingston County.

Residents of Iosco Township, a farming community south of Fowlerville and near Webberville, attended to oppose DTE Electric Co.’s plans for two solar energy districts totaling more than 1,800 acres, or nearly 3 square miles.

If DTE’s plan comes to fruition, arrays of solar panels would be installed on much of the land.

That plan has many local residents up in arms about the potential loss of the community’s rural character and how it could open the door for future industrial developments. Some residents fear it would create risks to the environment, wildlife, and drinking water. Some suggested solar panels would be better suited for cities instead of rural communities.

The Iosco Township Board of Trustees voted unanimously to postpone voting on DTE’s conditional rezoning requests. Their vote followed hours of public comments and an hour-and-a-half-long closed session with township attorneys.

The township board could vote on the rezoning at its Thursday, Dec. 18 meeting.

Township resident Laurie Adams, who lives next to the proposed solar project, had requested the township board have a special public hearing Thursday night before deciding on DTE’s rezoning requests.

“My family, along with several others that live nearby, face the prospect of living next to the substation, transmission lines and the solar array, as well,” Adams said during the special public hearing. “It’s a reality that brings considerable concern, not just for us but the future of the township as a whole.”

“What we are talking about tonight is not simply a matter of support or opposition to solar energy,” Adams said. “It is about scale, legal precedent, and community impact. This is not just another project. It represents a major shift in the land use planning for Iosco Township.”

She said approving DTE’s project would “set a precedent for future development and land use decisions” in the township.

“These decisions will shape what kind of community we become, not just for the next few years but for decades and generations to come,” she said.

The Ann Arbor News/MLive reached out to DTE for comment Friday morning, but did not receive a response.

DTE has gotten numerous property owners on board with its plan for two solar districts, described as the “west district” and the “south district.”

The western portion of DTE’s proposal consists of about 909 acres located south of Coon Lake Road, east of Gregory Road, mostly west of Bull Run Road, and north of Roberts Road.

The southern portion of the proposal consists of about 966 acres located south of Ringneck Way, east of Weller Road, west of Dutcher Road, and north of Schafer Road.

Resident Sherri Smarch is concerned about what would happen to her property’s value, she told The Ann Arbor News/MLive.

“I understand why farmers may want to try to bring in income so they can keep their land, because they are being taxed to death for their parcels and this is a way of them still owning their property after they lease it for a period of time,” Smarch said. “But yet I also don’t want my property value to go down when I get ready to sell my home because of these solar panels.”

Josh and Nicole Summers, who recently moved to the township to be close to family, oppose the solar project. They are concerned about chemical runoff, impacts on wildlife, and maintaining the community’s rural character.

“We have a high water table and we rely exclusively on our wells for water to our homes, and while typically solar panels are considered safe, they do on the insides have lead, cadmium, heavy metals,” Nicole Summers said.

She said she is worried about inevitable panel failures.

While she does not have a problem with solar energy in general, she sees it as “irresponsible” to site large solar arrays in agricultural zones near conservation areas and wetlands.

If the township board denies the rezoning, DTE could potentially appeal to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

But several residents who spoke at the meeting said they would continue to fight it if the decision goes to the state, asking the township to have their back.

On Thursday night, township officials voted to adopt what is called a compatible renewable energy ordinance (CREO) or “trigger” ordinance, which could allow the township to exert more local control over utility-scale renewable energy projects moving forward.

It means “any solar company wishing to develop in Iosco Township has to come to the township first,” township Clerk Julie Dailey said.

The trigger ordinance aligns township regulations with the state’s Public Act 233, which allows developers to bypass local government approval and go directly to the Michigan Public Service Commission if local regulations are too restrictive, and Public Act 234, a related amendment to Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.

Township officials unanimously approved the trigger ordinance, as the large crowd of residents cheered.

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