What a wind, solar moratorium in Clinton County means
ST. JOHNS — A year-long moratorium on utility-scale wind and solar projects is getting closer in Clinton County.
County commissioners voted Thursday to set aside $26,000 for staff overtime and legal work needed for an advisory committee that would study and make recommendations on wind and solar land use.
The county's planning commission agreed to recommend a moratorium last week, and the county's Ways and Means Committee approved the advisory committee's funding Thursday. The full county commission is expected to vote on the moratorium at a May 30 meeting.
The moratorium, if approved, would start the first week of June, said Doug Riley, the county's community development director, who is retiring at the end of May.
The moratorium is being driven by townships that are asking for updated guidance on large projects that are often controversial, and by residents who frequently object to the large wind and solar projects. Clinton County has approved two large-scale solar projects, including one in February that was altered in several ways at the request of county officials before it was approved.
Two county commissioners, Bruce DeLong, R-St. Johns, and Val Vail-Shirey, R-Bath, said they are aware of plans by a solar company to make a solar farm in Bingham Township but it has not been brought to planning officials so it remains a private matter between landowners and the solar company until they start the formal process.
DeLong said he has talked to officials with the solar company, which he and Vail-Shirey did not identify by name. He said the company had intended to apply in July but now plans to participate in the committee process.
"I hear rumors, but I haven't had anyone contact me," Riley said. "There are rumors regarding leases and landowners who have been approached."
Vail-Shirey said she believes around 1,000 acres are under a lease or lease option for a future solar farm in the township.
It would need to wait until the committee is finished with a review that could last roughly a year but that can be shortened or lengthened. A draft report is expected far sooner, in September, so the planning commission and full commission could take several months to address the findings and make any policy changes for the start of 2024, Vail-Shirey said.
The moratorium would stop utility scale wind and solar farms from being permitted until the committee is finished. Riley said there are no current utility scale wind or solar proposals in the 11 townships whose planning responsibilities goes through the county. He is not aware of formal plans for solar or wind at the 17 municipalities that handle their own zoning in the county.
Smaller-scale wind and solar projects, like panels on a home or a business, would be allowed during a moratorium with the distinction being whether the electricity is intended to primarily remain on site, planning commission officials said during a previous meeting.
The committee will have 19 members - 11 members from various townships whose planning is done by the county, two county commissioners and six members of the community from a variety of viewpoints.
"A 19-member committee is kind of unwieldly," said Commissioner David Pohl, R-Fowler. "Good luck."
Vail-Shirey, who sketched out the plan for the committee's work with a target of September for a draft report, smiled.
"I love challenges," she said.
The committee will likely meet twice a month on Thursday evenings for several months.
Anyone can apply to be a part of the committee, the details to send in your application are here or at clinton-county.org.
Contact Mike Ellis at mellis@lsj.com or 517-267-0415
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: What a wind, solar moratorium in Clinton County means
