Energy project proposals: Why Michigan? Why rural communities? Why now?
THREE RIVERS, Mich. — A proposed solar and battery energy storage system in Fabius Township, in St. Joseph County sparked a wave of questions among residents.
Planning commissioners approved the special use permit and plan review portion of the project application during a meeting Tuesday night.
"The only thing left for the board to do would be to enter into an agreement with EDP for decommissioning and emergency response plan," Randy Schmeling, Chairman of the Fabius Township Planning Commission, told the township board in a brief update during a separate meeting Wednesday evening.
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The proposed multi-parcel solar and battery storage facility is slated for land near the M-60 corridor, west of Three Rivers.
The project, led by EDP Renewables (https://www.edp.com/sites/default/files/document/2025-09/EDPR%20NA%20About%20Us.pdf) , under the name Three Lakes Solar and Battery Storage, involves more than 50 landowners who have signed over their private land for development, according to Director of Development Ali Stano.
A few people who spoke during Tuesday night's public hearing identified themselves as generational farmers who have chosen to lease their land, for the financial gain but also as a way to maintain ownership of their land long-term amid an uncertain economy.
Despite apparent support from landowners, some residents voiced concerns and questions about the plan during the meeting. However, because of the typical format of public hearings, many of those questions went unanswered.
News Channel 3 is working to answer ongoing questions surrounding the quickly evolving, and seemingly sudden, renewable energy sector. We took the community's questions to the township and EDP Renewables, and this report details their answers.
QUESTION: "Why Michigan?"
Several residents questioned why developers chose Michigan, a region known for snow and little sunlight.
"I don’t know how this is gonna charge with the little bit of sunshine we get," one resident said during Tuesday’s meeting.
"Why would you pick an area that has half the sunlight as the rest of the country?" another asked.
ANSWER:
Stano from EDP Renewables’ told News Channel 3 that current solar panel technology has come a long way.
"(It) produce electricity on days even when it’s cloudy," she said. "We wouldn’t build here if it didn’t make financial sense."
She added that Michigan’s existing infrastructure, including a nearby substation off of M-60, grid capacity, and the availability of willing landowners all factored into the company’s decision.
QUESTION: "How much money?"
The company stated during the meeting that the township will receive significant funding from the project, along with landowners leasing to the project. Plus, they said, adjacent neighbors, are able to receive financial compensation.
"The main reason I was involved with the solar is the financial part of it," one landowner stated.
"We are offering neighbor agreements as well. Those are annual payments. Those don't allow us to put infrastructure on those properties, but they are offered to homes that are directly adjacent to a parcel posting infrastructure," said Stano.
ANSWER:
As far as specific payment amounts, Stano said that cannot be disclosed, citing confidentiality.
"That cumulative payment, should every neighbor that qualifies choose to participate and sign an agreement, would be up to three point five million dollars over the life of the project."
QUESTION: "Who will be held responsible?"
Residents also pressed the company about the life cycle of the project, particularly what will happen decades from now at the end of the project's lifespan when the land must be restored.
One neighbor raised concerns about companies creating smaller subsidiaries as a way to abandon long-term responsibility.
"Unscrupulous companies will create smaller companies to use as shields," the resident said during public comment.
ANSWER:
Stano emphasized long-term ownership and accountability within their current and future projects.
"We are long-term owners and operators of our projects," she said. "We are responsible and obligated through our leases to decommission as well."
She asserted it is standard practice for each project to be formed as its own LLC, but that parent company EDP Renewables remains responsible and financially tied to every site.
Stano added that a decommissioning bond, agreed upon between the company and township, will be secured before breaking ground to protect the township in a worst-case scenario.
It was also noted that as part of the agreement, the bond figures will be refreshed regularly to keep up with changes, such as inflation.
QUESTION: "How real is the threat of state regulation overriding local control?"
Michigan’s energy siting law, Public Act 233, shifted permitting authority for large renewable energy projects away from local governments and toward the state.
"My question is about going to the state. They're always threatening we're gonna go to the state," one resident said.
ANSWER:
Township Supervisor Dan Wilkins told News Channel 3 that, while he disagrees with PA 233, it is the law of the land and has guided the urgency of this process.
"If we refuse to work with them, all they have to do is go to the state," Wilkins said. "Then we have no control over where it goes."
For the township, Wilkins said it's choosing the location that mattered most.
Fabius’ master plan designates the M-60 and US-131 corridors for industrial uses, rather than land in the center of the township, he said.
Wilkins said that if the company went through Lansing instead, the state could approve a project in areas the township believes are unsuitable.
"It’s our township. But they want to take us out of the equation and do whatever they want," he said. "We have no say in it."
Wilkins also acknowledged residents’ criticism about transparency, but insisted that leaders have never withheld information.
"Everything was done in public meetings," Wilkins said.
He said Fabius Township began reviewing solar zoning years ago, long before state law changed. At the time, he said, interest from an earlier company started the conversation.
That developer later walked away, Wilkins said, and EDP Renewables took over.
Stano said EDP Renewables has worked with local municipalities, rather than the state, for each of their Michigan projects.
"If we have to have one, we’d rather work with a company that will build, own and maintain it, not one that builds it and sells it off," he said.
QUESTION: "Why not fight the state?"
Some residents questioned why the township isn’t pursuing a more aggressive legal strategy against the state.
ANSWER:
Wilkins said many small townships do not have the resources for a prolonged fight.
He said Fabius uses the Michigan Townships Association’s legal advisory team, attorneys Wilkins described as "the best in the state."
Still, he said he does want to see the state law repealed, not just for Fabius Township, but for other rural communities facing similar developments.
"Anytime you take away local control over local issues, it’s bad legislation," he said. "People don’t realize what’s happening in Lansing, until it’s too late."
At this point, this project is in the hands of EDP Renewables and the Fabius Township Board, to finalize agreements on emergency response, decommissioning and bond requirements.
Wilkins said the timeline is uncertain.
"Those agreements have to come from EDP, then go to our attorney," he said. "My best guess is probably February."
Agendas for those meetings will be posted on the township’s website, he said.
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As this project and others like it move forward throughout the region, share your questions with News Channel 3.
Send an e-mail desk@wwmt.com (https://wwmt.com/news/local/mail%20to:%20desk@wwmt.com) or attaylor@sbgtv.com (https://wwmt.com/news/local/mail%20to:%20attaylor@sbgtv.com) .
We will continue to cover these stories and work to find answers to your questions.
