Cohoctah Planning Commission votes to recommend moratorium for commercial wind, solar projects

COHOCTAH TWP. — The Cohoctah Township Planning Commission voted 6-0 Thursday to recommend that the township board adopt an amended ordinance with a 12-month moratorium on construction of commercial wind and solar energy projects.

According to the resolution, the purpose of the moratorium is "to provide sufficient time for the Cohoctah Township Planning Commission and Township Board to fully and thoughtfully explore, analyze, research and make informed decision regarding commercial wind and solar energy projects and repeal sections of the township zoning ordinance pertaining to solar farms and solar energy systems."

A moratorium is a temporary suspension of activity, and the planning commissioners' recommendation for the halt came after almost two hours of public comments from people at Water's Edge Camp and Conference Center in Howell.

"We are not against solar. We are not against local farmers making ends meet. We are not against greener energy," said Clint Beach, who lives in a neighboring community. "What we are all upset about is large-scale industrial invading our township. That's it.

"We don't care if it's solar, wind, green energy, oil, coal, a factory or even a large-scale parking lot. It all means the same thing. Anything large scale negates any possible benefits," he said.

As the public hearing unfolded, residents also stated gratitude for the commissioners' increased communication and transparency on the topic of solar. The planners' recommendation now goes to the township board for discussion and potential adoption.

MORE: Major solar development may be coming to Conway and Cohoctah townships

Communities rally

Solar farms and moratoriums have been discussed at length in recent months in nearby communities.

In December, an hours-long meeting took place at the Fowlerville Junior High School auditorium so Conway Township planning commissioners could take feedback on Ranger Power's proposed solar project that would be constructed on farmland in both Conway and Cohoctah townships.

No decisions were made. Conway Township's moratoriums remains in place until March.

Drew Vielbig, Ranger Power's senior development manager, was disappointed to hear Cohoctah Township planning commissioners would recommend a 12-month moratorium and and block farmers' ability to consider having their land be part of a solar project.

"The Headland Solar Project will bring economic and environmental benefits to the community while preserving its agricultural nature," he said. "We look forward to continuing our work throughout the community as we bring this project forward."

Meanwhile, for Cohoctah Township's recent meeting, residents shared their concerns for large solar projects, including long-term environmental impacts, toxicity within the panels, drainage concerns, and decreased property values.

"We are hardworking people who go to work every day and then come home to work more hours, doing research, writing letters and educating ourselves on the solar power plants," Fowlerville resident Joann Haas said. "We give up time with our family and friends to fight to protect our homes, our land, our wildlife and future generations from the devastation these power plants will cause."

According to Haas, there are 1,284 homes in Cohoctah Township, and about 200,000 panels will serve 11,000 homes, meaning each home would need 18.18 panels. Multiplied by 1,284 for the number of homes means 23,343 panels for Cohoctah Township, she said.

Additionally, Haas read a letter from a resident concerned about drainage between adjacent Conway and Cohoctah townships.

"Conway due to its undeveloped characteristics lacks appropriate infrastructure to support the drainage demands of a large-scale utility development," Haas read.

Other residents highlighted the chemicals contained in the solar panels and how they will affect individuals' long term.

"We need to know the company that is manufacturing them. The exact panels they are going to use," Haas read from another letter.

Mary Ratelle of Howell added to the conversation about the horrific sight of broken solar panels.

"I was horrified when I saw — and you can't make these things up — pictures of solar area panels that had been destroyed and damaged by wind, storms and fires," said Ratelle, who has experience as a dispatcher for police, fire and EMS personnel. "My biggest heart break would be, not just thinking of the first responders, but also the people in the areas. They are disastrous, and they don't belong in our area."

Others, including Beach, focused on the potential harm from large-scale, utility solar projects.

"A few solar panels on your house doesn't impact the local wildlife," he said. "Just shading the ground in such a large capacity will impact the soil and make it harder to convert back to agriculture."

Sarah Porter of Conway Township expressed fear of a 30% decrease in property values.

"To many people, this is our biggest retirement asset," she said. "For people who don't gamble, that's a big deal. Who will want to move here? These companies are going to be gone and this is going to be in the industrial slums of Livingston County.

"We are not against solar. We are against utility scale solar. We simply cannot save the climate by destroying our environment," she said.

Heather Hodge, a more than 16-year Conway Township resident who works in the biotechnology field, spoke in support of solar projects.

"I was really thrilled when I heard about the solar coming to our area," she said. "I assumed there would be a lot of the community that would be as well, and I personally was just surprised when I heard there wasn't much support."

"I thought everyone would be on the same page about how renewables like solar would free our energy system and the fossil fuel industry, which has been polluting our air," she said. "The energy transition is complex and technical in so much detail that it leaves room for misinformation and disinformation to occur."

She added that through her research, she has found no truth behind claims that solar farms would bring down neighboring property values.

 Livingston Daily reporter Patricia Alvord can be reached at palvord@livingstondaily.com.