The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced the聽seventh聽round of Renewables Ready Communities Awards聽(RRCA) to support聽nine聽communities聽(listed below)聽hosting solar power and battery storage projects that will聽provide聽Michigan households and businesses聽with聽clean energy.
鈥淭hese awards demonstrate EGLE鈥檚 commitment to partnering with communities to build Michigan鈥檚 clean energy future,鈥� said EGLE Director Phil Roos. 鈥淭hrough the Renewables Ready Communities program, local governments are gaining the resources they need to reinvest in public safety, essential services, and projects that strengthen their communities.鈥�
The RRCA program offers flexible funding to local governments for community improvements and infrastructure projects and services like road and bridge repairs, public safety, park enhancements, and building upgrades. This program incentivizes communities to host large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and battery storage by providing awards that supplement the project鈥檚 tax revenue and community benefits.
The current round of awards totals $3.87 million and supports聽nine聽local units of government. Half of each award is disbursed upon the start of energy project construction, and the other half upon the聽start of operation. Here are the awardees and the聽related聽renewable energy projects:
- $375,000 to聽Coldwater Township聽in Branch County聽for hosting聽Cold Creek Energy Center,聽a聽75 megawatt聽(MW)聽battery storage project with an expected construction date of September 2026 and聽an聽operation date of March 2027.
- $183,500听迟辞听Delta County for hosting Renegade Solar, a 73.4 MW solar project under construction with an expected operation date of June 2026.
- $500,000 to聽Fairgrove Township聽in Tuscola County聽(awaiting State Administrative Board approval)聽for hosting Tuscola II Energy Storage, a 100 MW battery storage project聽with an expected construction date of April 2027聽and聽an聽operation date of May 2028.
- $275,000听迟辞听Grant Township聽in Cheboygan County聽for hosting聽Northern Waters Solar, a聽110 MW solar project with an expected construction date of June 2027 and operation date of December 2028.
- $425,000听迟辞听尝补飞谤别苍肠别听罢辞飞苍蝉丑颈辫聽in Van Buren County聽for hosting聽Murch Solar, an聽85 MW聽solar project聽under construction聽with an聽expected operation date聽of February 2027.
- $120,035听迟辞听Mason Township聽in Arenac County聽for hosting聽Au Gres Solar, a聽55 MW solar project with an expected construction date of July 2026 and operation date of September 2028.
- $750,000 to聽Midland Township聽in Midland County聽(waiting for State Administrative Board approval)聽for hosting Salzburg Battery Storage, a 150 MW battery storage project聽with an expected construction date of June 2027 and聽an聽operation date of December 2028.
- $740,000 to聽Newberg Township聽in聽Cass County聽(waiting for State Administrative Board approval)聽for hosting Three Lakes Solar, a 148 MW solar project聽with an expected construction date of April 2027聽and an聽operation date of December 2028.
- $500,000 to聽Saline Township in Washtenaw County (waiting for State Administrative Board approval) for hosting Voyager Storage, a 100 MW battery storage project under construction with an expected operation date of January 2027.
鈥淲e are enthusiastic about this opportunity to allocate additional resources to areas that are typically beyond our budgetary constraints,鈥� said Newburg Township Clerk Amanda Duff. 鈥淭he Three Lakes Solar project is currently benefiting residents within the community. Through the award program, this project has the potential to extend its benefits to the entire township.鈥�
Duff said the award will support ambulance and fire department programs, enhance ongoing Township Hall construction, and help complete previously unbudgeted road projects.聽Lawrence Township聽plans to use its award for聽road upgrades聽鈥� with a 150% increase to its yearly road budget, from $100,000 to $250,000聽鈥� along with聽park improvements and聽enhancements to聽public safety聽and聽energy.
鈥淲e approached this thoughtfully. We worked closely with the developer through open dialogue to address concerns, while upholding all local ordinances and state standards,鈥� said聽Township Permit Clerk and Housing Coordinator聽Matthew Sanborn.聽鈥淭he result is a win-win: clean energy progress, over $7 million in projected property taxes for our township over the project’s life, plus the RRCA funding.鈥�