GRAND HAVEN, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Oct. 15, 2026) – An appeal is expected after a Wednesday ruling in favor of the company looking to build a 200-megawatt, 1900-acre solar farm east of Zeeland.
Judge Jon Hulsing in the 20th Circuit Court said that a deal by the Smallegan family to lease nearly 563 acres of its dairy farm to RWE was valid. The firm filed a lawsuit claiming that several family members had prevented access to the property in violation of the agreement, while the defendants argued they thought the contract was only for surveying and testing, not for the actual construction and operation of the proposed project.
In his ruling, Hulsing gave RWE the exclusive and unconditional right to enter the property in question, barred the defendants from directly or indirectly threatening, violating, or interfering, ordered the Smallegans to pay legal fees to the plaintiff, and barred them from acting as an intervenor against the company’s application to the state Public Service Commission for building the Silver Maple Solar Farm south of I-196 near the Ottawa Executive Airport off of Byron Road.
Zeeland Township has filed a lawsuit against RWE, attempting to stop the project by arguing the state law bypassing local jurisdiction on the matter is unconstitutional. The litigation was filed in 20th District Court, but the company is looking to have the matter heard at US District Court in Kalamazoo.
 
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