by Joseph Schultz
NorthStar Clean Energy presented plans for a 101-megawatt solar energy system and a 200-megawatt hour battery energy storage system to a packed house Monday night in Monterey Township.
Matt Hursh from NorthStar Clean Energy – Allegan Solar LLC, told the Planning Commission that the solar project would be in Monterey and Hopkins townships. It would be bounded by 128th Avenue to the north, 26th Street to the west, 125th Avenue to the south and 23rd Street to the east.
Plans are to begin construction in 2027, and start operations in 2028. The landscaping of the solar farm would be maintained with the use of sheep. NorthStar would also provide training for emergency responders.
Hursh also promised that beside the annual revenue the township would receive in taxes, Monterey would receive a $485,000 windfall from the State of Michigan.
Township attorney Seth Koches was on hand to explain Public Act 233, state legislation that spells out requirements of a wind turbine, solar farm, or BESS of 50-megawatts or more. Monterey Township’s ordinances regulating solar and BESS is more restrictive than the state’s requirements, which is not unusual, Koches noted.
Under the legislation, if a local authority refuses a special use permit for a solar or BESS project, the applicants could instead get approval from the Public Service Commission in Lansing.
Many of the questions had to do with decommissioning of the solar project in 35 years. Hursh stated that NorthStar has put bonds in place for decommissioning so the township would not have to pay for it. The amount for decommissioning funds would be reviewed periodically to keep pace with the cost of materials and labor.
The reason the solar project would be decommissioned in 35 years is based on a power agreement NorthStar has with a customer. Koches said if that power agreement were to be renewed after the 35 years, NorthStar would need to seek approval again from the township.
Planning Commission chairman Scott Boeve explained to the community that they would have a time that they could ask questions of the commissioners about the project. The questions were entered in the minutes of the meeting, and the commission will seek answers and present them at the next meeting Feb. 9.
The first question came from Anita Kerber, who presented a request for a moratorium (pause) for the special use permit. She explained that the application was submitted when the project is only at 30% designed. Kerber also pointed out that 27 items were not answered, or answered “Not Available” in the safety section of the application.
The moratorium was signed by 28 other members of the community.
Other residents’ questions were about whether NorthStar could assign the project to another company; a question about underground tiles, and the site being a flood plain.
Residents also wanted to know how the solar project would effect property values, and what benefit the township would receive from approval.
Monterey Township has contracted with an engineer to review the proposal. The review and answers to the questions will be presented at the Feb. 9 meeting.
