LANSING — Two large-scale solar projects in Northern Michigan are set to go online in the coming years, in what experts say is part of a broader uptake of renewable energy sources.
The Northern Waters Solar Park in Cheboygan County would cover about 800 acres of land and generate enough electricity to power more than 30,000 homes a year.
That project was approved by the county planning commission last week and is set to begin operations in 2028.
EDP Renewables, the developer of the project, estimates that the solar farm would generate about $24 million in tax revenue over the project’s 35-year lifespan.
“For the 800 or so acres that are going to be part of the project, under the panels inside the fence, these will be providing a much higher rate of revenue to the county than they were before,” said Thomas LoTurco, EDP executive vice president for the Eastern US.
Another Northern Michigan community has also approved a large-scale renewable project this year.
The 45th Parallel solar project in Otsego County would take up over a thousand acres and produce up to 200 megawatts, nearly double the capacity of the Cheboygan Project.
“Solar is not only benefiting climate and bringing in clean energy to our communities, but it’s also benefiting local in regional areas where that solar project goes in,” said Lyla Hollis, clean energy specialist with the Groundwork Center.
The Otsego proposal was approved by the county planning commission in February and is estimated to start operating in 2027.
The projects utilize private land and are separate from the DNR’s plan to lease more than 400 acres of state forest land to solar developers. That plan was abandoned in January after backlash from the public and lawmakers.
The policies are also spurred by Michigan’s state climate laws, which require utilities to source 50% of their power from renewable sources by 2030.
“So there’s a whole bunch of developers who are looking for places to build wind, solar and energy storage facilities to sell to the utilities to be able to meet that law,” said Sarah Mills, director of the University of Michigan’s Center for EmPowering Communities.
Experts predict that the development of solar projects will likely pick up in the coming years, since projects are generally becoming less expensive and require less upkeep than fossil fuel infrastructure.
That’s despite a rollback of federal support around the industry, including cancelling project investments and tax incentives.
“We will continue to see renewables development in Michigan — it might be more expensive than it would have been if these projects got federal tax credits, but the utilities are required to increase the amount of renewables substantially in the next couple of years,” Mills said.