St. Clair County to hold public meeting on proposed regulations on solar, battery energy plants

The St. Clair County Health Department is hosting a meeting on Wednesday to consider proposed regulations on solar energy and battery energy storage facilities.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. April 16 on the second floor of the County Administrative Building at 200 Grand River Ave., Port Huron. No action or vote will take place at the meeting, only discussion of the proposed regulations. The proposed regulations will be considered by the St. Clair County Board of Commissioners at least 20 days after the public hearing.

The meeting is being held amid recent controversy over a planned solar power plant being built by Ranger Power in Fort Gratiot Township, with residents expressing concern over how the plant will effect property values or could pose health risks.

The proposed regulations would establish an application and approval process for new facilities in the county, set standards regarding noise from such facilities, create regulations around “visual pollution” in the communities hosting the facilities and require the applicant to show they are financially secure enough to decommission the facilities.

More: St. Clair County medical director says Fort Gratiot solar plant poses health risk

The proposed regulations, which are available on the health department’s website, cite several studies that lay out the county’s concerns regarding noise and visual issues related to solar and battery storage facilities.

“To safeguard the public health and protect the public from negative health impacts of Energy Facilities, it is necessary for the Health Department to adopt and enforce this Regulation, including the Minimum Standards detailed herein,” the proposal states in a section outlining its purpose.

In addition to laying out requirements for a proposed energy facility to apply for approval, the proposed regulations would require the facility to not produce noise above 45 decibels for anyone outside the facility property and to minimize visibility from the road.

Anyone unable to attend the April 16 meeting can submit a letter with their comments to the St. Clair County Health Department at 3415 28th St., Port Huron, or via email at healthdept@stclaircounty.org. Anyone who wants to attend but needs assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act is asked to contact the St. Clair County Administration at 810-989-6900 at least 48 hours before the meeting to make special arrangements.

Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.