Heartwood Solar to file for permits for Hillsdale County solar farm

Chicago-based Ranger Power sold the output of its proposed 150-megawatt solar farm on the west side of Hillsdale County to Consumers Energy this month. The agreement is one of several under review by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Plans for the Hillsdale project, called the Heartwood Solar project, include 1,600 acres under lease or purchase in Fayette and Allen townships.

The general area of participating project land is located between Bean Road and Genesee Road to the west of Jonesville.

"The majority of the project is under lease agreement rather than purchase," said spokesperson Toby Valentino. "The solar project area is expected to be between 700 to 900 acres after being completed."

Completion will be sometime in 2024.

Allen Township does not have zoning. Fayette Township has a solar farm ordinance. Ranger will soon file permit applications.

"Heartwood Solar is going above and beyond setback requirements by maintaining a minimum distance of 150 feet between all residences and solar arrays," the company said. "Further, the solar arrays will be set back a minimum of 50 feet from all public roads."

The setbacks exceed the Fayette Township ordinance requirements.

Fayette Township Clerk Karen Sparks said Ranger is a "class group" after working with them through preparation to bring solar farms to the township.

Ranger commissioned a project-specific study of property values through a third-party firm Cohn Reznick. It found there will be no impact on adjacent residential property values.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission determined solar panels generate electricity through the absorption of sunlight, so they are designed to minimize and avoid light reflection. The panels do not make noise, nor do they cause glare. Ranger said the panels would also be coated with an anti-reflective coating.

Because of the contract, the system is designed to provide power for a minimum of 30 years.

"Solar projects are a temporary use of the land, and all project infrastructure will be removed at the end of the life of the Heartwood Solar project," Ranger officials said.

The leases and township requirements require Ranger Power to restore the land to its pre-existing condition once the project is decommissioned.

The site was selected because it is close to high voltage transmission lines.

"We will be utilizing the existing high-voltage transmission lines running through the township north of Jonesville Road and west of North Bunn Road," Valentino said.

The project does not have environmental impacts. The land around the panels will have natural grasses and habitat, especially for pollinators.

Based on current Michigan law, Heartwood Solar is projected to generate over $2 million in tax revenue in the first year alone. Legislators are considering taxing solar farms on a single annual fee basis. Currently, they are taxed as ad valorem property subject to depreciation.

Under current taxation, Ranger said Heartwood Solar would generate nearly $19 million in new property tax revenues over the lifetime of the project.

Jurisdiction receiving ad valorem taxes include Hillsdale County, Allen and Fayette townships, Jonesville Community Schools, Hillsdale Intermediate School District and the Jonesville District Library.

Ranger Power is a solar energy development company. The company said it is "committed to working closely with landowners and local stakeholders to bring new investment and clean energy to their communities."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Heartwood Solar will file for permits for Hillsdale County solar farm