GRAND HAVEN, MI – A solar project has been approved next to the Grand Haven Memorial Airpark.
The Grand Haven City Council voted Monday, Feb. 16 to approve an easement that will allow a community solar project to be established in the west side of the airport, with some conditions.
Grand Haven Board of Light & Power (BLP) brought the project forward, citing a need for clean, renewable energy access to more residents.
Solar panels would be leased by community members, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to install them, on a five-acre “community solar garden,” said Rob Shelley, BLP general manager.
The project is an “opportunity for residents and businesses who are unable to install rooftop solar — due to rental status, shading, roof limitations, or financial constraints — to participate directly in locally generated renewable energy,” stated a letter of support from the City of Grand Haven Sustainability and Energy Commission.
“There is a need for future additional power in the area, and although modest in scale, a small installation at the airport would meaningfully expand equitable access to clean energy while keeping ownership, operational control, and benefits within the local utility and community.”
The project still requires approval by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Several pilots, the airport manager and FAA air traffic controller spoke in opposition to the proposal Monday night, raising safety concerns.
Airport Manager Earle Bares emphasized that the proposed location is a federally funded “clear zone” intended to be free of obstructions for emergency landings and departures.
“As the name implies, ‘clear zone’ means that we would prefer that no objects or obstructions be placed in that zone, period,” Bares said. “I think safety is one of the most important things to be considered and sacrificing safety at the airport to put in solar panels at the beginning of the approach or the end of the departure zone is not a very good idea.”
The proposed site is a wooded area west of the “runway protection zone” and within federal requirements, Shelley said.
“Even if they extend the runway, we’re out past that,” Shelley said. “We think this is a viable solution otherwise we wouldn’t be here.”
Further, Shelley said there is a BLP power line on 45-foot poles just to the west of that space, along with a Consumers Energy pole power line there.
He said the solar panels would be 10 to 15 feet high.
“I don’t think we’re taking away any safety, I think we’re actually adding,” Shelley said. “We’re going to clear that (space), you’re going to have more clear space than you have today.”
A couple council members argued the FAA should have been consulted first, but Shelley and Mayor Bob Monetza said having the city’s support assures the BLP’s financial risk and could affect the FAA’s consideration of the project.
“If this is heavily conditioned on those FAA approvals and not putting us in a bind with losing our property rights and having to pay back grants, then I would move forward just to get the process moving along,” Monetza said. “That’s my feeling.”
According to project plans, individuals would be able to lease or buy the solar panels for 20 years and would get the output credited back to their BLP power bill over that span of time.
The BLP won’t start the project until at least one-third of the panels are sold or leased, Shelley said.
He said the price of the lease will be decided later. Funds would be held in an escrow account. If the project does not go forward, the money would be refunded.
Customers would be able to transfer ownership, for example in the sale of a home or to a nonprofit.
Shelley said the BLP would pay for the construction of the project, including the removal of trees, maintain the area and eventually demolish it at the end of the 20 years.
“We’ll move all the panels, remove the wiring… and put it back to open space,” Shelley said.
The easement approved by the city council allows the BLP to request FAA permit approval and begin the design phase of the project.
If approved, the BLP will need to come back to the city for a special land use permit for a power generating facility.
Shelley added that if this project moves forward, there are plans for a second and third expansion.
Kayla Tucker is a government and community reporter for MLive.com, covering Muskegon County and northern Ottawa County. Originally from Grand Rapids, she attended Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley… more
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