Solar Farm Proposal Shock to Local Residents and State Representatives

On Sunday, a revelation surfaced about a concerning proposal that would see a solar farm installed on more than 400 acres of state-owned land in Otsego County, Michigan. Astonishingly, the information came as a shock to not just local residents, but also state representatives. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has categorized this land for potential lease; however, the major catch is that any trees obstructing the proposed solar farm would need to be felled.

Local resident and state representative, Ken Borton, described his disbelief upon learning about the proposed solar farm. “I’ve got 140 acres of prime forest land here that I’ve worked over the years, never, ever would’ve dreamed of just clearcutting the property completely,” voiced a dismayed Borton.

Making Way for Green Energy?

According to the DNR, the selection of the land – part of which is already cleared – is partially due to its proximity to an existing solar project on adjacent private land. “It’s close to the electrical transmission corridor, which is a big advantage for solar energy. It’s also in a place where we’ve been told the electrical grid can take more electrons,” stated Scott Whitcomb, Director at the DNR Office of Public Lands.

DNR Admits to Tough Choices, Representatives Call for Mass Firings

Despite the prospect of solar energy, Whitcomb acknowledged the tough choice in having to cut down trees, particularly as the state’s climate plan tends to discourage such action. Eager to secure public understanding, he suggested some of the revenue generated from the project could be used to replace the cleared forests elsewhere. On the other hand, lawmakers are calling for sweeping changes within DNR. “As far as using state land goes, property that belongs to all the people of Michigan, to do something like this without getting their input is absolutely wrong,” opined Borton.

Scrutinizing the Authority of the DNR

Borton, along with fellow lawmakers, plans to investigate the DNR’s authority to lease the land for such a project. Going further, Reps. Borton, Mike Hoadley, and State Sen. Michele Hoitenga demanded ‘mass firings’ within the DNR, accusing the department of abandoning its responsibility to protect Michigan’s wildlife and forests for the sake of solar panel installation. Hoitenga commented, “Their department is supposed to stand up for outdoor enthusiasts; instead, they sold us out.”

Concerns of Government Overreach and Rising Energy Bills

Among the contentious issues is the increased dependency on wind and solar power at the expense of natural gas that has been mandated by recent legislation. Critics of the legislation have warned that it not only relinquishes local control over energy projects but also projects average monthly electric bills to nearly double. This overreach comes at a time when lawmakers argue the pressing objective should be to protect the natural resources that belong to the people of Michigan.