OTTAWA COUNTY, MI — Some residents in rural Ottawa County want to derail a large commercial solar farm planned for acreage spanning two townships.
The project, as initially proposed, could cover up to 1,100 acres on land south of I-196 near the Ottawa Executive Airport on Byron Road.
Zeeland Township planners in recent months have been crafting a solar energy ordinance in anticipation of a permit application from RWE, the multinational energy company based in Essen, Germany behind the proposal.
RWE has a web site explaining the Ottawa County project, dubbed “Silver Maple Solar.”
The “state of the art” solar farm would create enough electricity to power more than 34,000 homes and generate more than $30 million in property taxes over the project’s lifespan.
Related: Proposed large-scale solar farm gets ‘save family farms’ pushback in West Michigan
Here are five things to know about the project.
German energy company RWE is proposing a 200-megawatt solar farm in Ottawa County, spanning up to 1,100 acres in Zeeland and Jamestown townships, with an estimated cost of $300 million and a target construction start in 2026.
Some Zeeland Township residents are actively organizing against the project. They are concerned about the loss of prime farmland, potential environmental impacts on groundwater and wildlife and the unappealing look of solar panels. Signs proclaiming “Save Family Farms” have cropped up along roadsides.
The Zeeland Township Planning Commission has a 7 p.m. Dec. 9 meeting, at the Zeeland Township office, to review the proposed solar ordinance. Some members have voiced personal reservations about converting farmland but acknowledge landowners’ property rights.
RWE is interested in the Ottawa County location due to its proximity to an existing high-voltage transmission line operated by Consumers Energy. The line runs just east of the Ottawa Executive Airport.
Michigan’s Public Act 233 allows energy developers to bypass local government decisions. If Zeeland Township denies a permit, RWE could go directly to the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval, potentially overriding local opposition.
John Tunison has been a reporter at MLive/Grand Rapids Press since 1997, covering courts, crime and local government. Since 2024, he's covered Ottawa County government.
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