The planning meeting Wednesday night was started with a moment of silence for Commissioner Ron DeVries, who died Wednesday morning.
Apex Clean Energy – Blazing Star Solar informed the Wayland Township Planning Commission Wednesday it will submit an application for a special use permit by the end of the week.
The permit would be for a 125-mega watt solar energy system to be built and operated on more than 670 acres in the township.
Apex representatives stressed that the project was only for a solar energy system. A battery energy storage system is not in the application, and Apex said it will not be a part of this project.
With the commission considering amending the solar ordinance, Apex representatives said they would submit an amendment should any amendment of the solar ordinance be approved by the board.
However, Apex also made it clear that should any part of the ordinance not be in compliance with state requirements, Apex would bring those concerns to the Public Service Commission in Lansing.
Planning Commission Chairman Larry Brenner told the Apex team that the township will, “Continue to work with you,” on the permitting process.
Brenner went on to say that given the size and scope of the application, the commission and PCI would take one month to review it. The first public meeting would be scheduled in March. When pressed for a timeline, Brenner said there would be meetings in March and April, with hopes for a decision in May.
When the application is submitted, Apex Clean Energy will post a copy on its website for the public to review.
In other news before the planning commission:
- The commission continued discussing amending the township’s solar and battery ordinances. Discussions centered around property value guarantees, and having the projects in compliance with National Fire Protection Association codes. The battery ordinance would limit the battery energy storage systems to being located in industrial zones only.
- During the public comment section, Andrew Hall, from the Land & Liberty Coalition, introduced himself and his group to the community. Hall explained to TownBroadcast that their group was rooted in property rights, and wanted to help farmers to get income from renewable energy projects. Their goal is to keep the benefits local. Hall offered their resources to the community.
