Proposed Solar Project Stirs Controversy Among Local Communities
A new proposal from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to lease 420 acres of state-managed forest land near Gaylord for solar development has ignited strong opposition. The plan, aimed at reducing carbon emissions by installing solar panels, has drawn criticism from local residents and lawmakers. While the DNR has pursued similar projects in the past with little public reaction, this latest proposal has prompted outrage, particularly from state Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), who represents the area. Borton learned about the plan through an MLive.com report and quickly shared the information on his social media channels, triggering a wave of public backlash. Residents, including Borton, are vocally opposed to the idea of clearing forests for solar arrays. “You do not bulldoze forest to put up solar panels,” Borton expressed, stressing that the proposal contradicts efforts to protect Michigan’s natural resources.
Lawmakers Demand Transparency and Reconsideration
In response to the controversy, Republican lawmakers, including Borton, have called on the Department of Natural Resources for clarification regarding the potential environmental impact of the proposed solar project. In a strongly worded letter to DNR Director Scott Bowen, Borton, along with 51 other Michigan House Republicans, expressed concerns about flattening over 400 acres of forested land for solar panel installation. They questioned how such a move aligns with the DNR’s mission and demanded a detailed report on the department’s involvement in replacing natural resources with “unproven green energy technologies.” Other critics, including state Rep. Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park), have pointed out that deforestation for solar development could lead to a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, undermining the environmental benefits of renewable energy. McFall also emphasized that the proposal contradicts Michigan’s Healthy Climate Plan, which aims to achieve 100% carbon-free energy generation by 2040 while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Department of Natural Resources Defends Proposal Amid Misinformation Claims
The DNR, caught off guard by the intense public reaction, has attempted to clarify its stance. Scott Whitcomb, director of the DNR’s Office of Public Lands, acknowledged the need for better communication with the public and attributed much of the backlash to misinformation. He explained that the proposal is part of the DNR’s broader strategy to evaluate state-managed lands for potential renewable energy sites, a plan initiated in 2019. The proposed site in Hayes Township is located near high-voltage transmission lines, which could facilitate the expansion of the solar project. Despite RWE Clean Energy, the solar development company behind the project, deciding not to pursue development on state land, the DNR is still planning to post a request for proposals and evaluate the viability of the land for solar development. In response to the public outcry, the DNR has proposed a 90-day public comment period and plans to provide more detailed information about the site’s location and condition.
Despite the Department of Natural Resources’s efforts to address concerns, Rep. Borton remains unconvinced. He rejected the DNR’s attempt to downplay the land’s significance, arguing that the property in question is some of the most beautiful in northern Michigan. The controversy over this proposal reflects broader tensions between environmental conservation and the pursuit of renewable energy development, with both sides claiming to champion the protection of Michigan’s natural resources.
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