By Bruce Rolfe
The Climax Township Planning Commission unanimously approved to send revised ordinances drafted by the township attorney that address solar and battery energy storage systems at a special meeting August 26 to the Climax Township Board to consider for adoption at its regular meeting September 10.
With the new state law approaching November 29 that preempts local municipality zoning that conflict with state laws and allows developers of solar projects over 50 megawatts to go straight through the state process to obtain a permit, the Planning Commission chose to have a workable ordinance pertaining to the township’s zoning for solar and battery energy storage systems in place for the Township Board to consider.
Earlier this year the Climax Township Board updated and approved the 2035 Master Plan that addresses solar and wind energy. The Planning Commission then needed to revise ordinances that reflects the renewable energy options.
Township attorney Robert Thall said developers could still choose not to work with the township and go through the State of Michigan, but the two ordinances the township board will consider September 10 allows the township to argue something was in place that supports the township’s Land Use Plan and doesn’t open the township up to more development then is desired.
The proposed revised ordinance limits development to 1000 acres for utility scale projects in the entire township, which Thall said is a little less then 5 percent of the total acreage in the township. This would allow a developer to put in up to two, 50-watt solar projects.
The proposed revised ordinance the township board will consider also addresses small scale solar for residential or to support a small business to place solar on top of a roof or on the property up to the limits allowed for residential or a small business.
A detailed article reviewing the revised ordinances to amend the Climax Township zoning ordinance to provide zoning regulations for solar energy systems within the township and the revised battery energy storage system revised ordinance will be published in the September 6 Climax Crescent.
The Climax Township Planning Commission unanimously approved to send revised ordinances drafted by the township attorney that address solar and battery energy storage systems at a special meeting August 26 to the Climax Township Board to consider for adoption at its regular meeting September 10.
With the new state law approaching November 29 that preempts local municipality zoning that conflict with state laws and allows developers of solar projects over 50 megawatts to go straight through the state process to obtain a permit, the Planning Commission chose to have a workable ordinance pertaining to the township’s zoning for solar and battery energy storage systems in place for the Township Board to consider.
Earlier this year the Climax Township Board updated and approved the 2035 Master Plan that addresses solar and wind energy. The Planning Commission then needed to revise ordinances that reflects the renewable energy options.
Township attorney Robert Thall said developers could still choose not to work with the township and go through the State of Michigan, but the two ordinances the township board will consider September 10 allows the township to argue something was in place that supports the township’s Land Use Plan and doesn’t open the township up to more development then is desired.
The proposed revised ordinance limits development to 1000 acres for utility scale projects in the entire township, which Thall said is a little less then 5 percent of the total acreage in the township. This would allow a developer to put in up to two, 50-watt solar projects.
The proposed revised ordinance the township board will consider also addresses small scale solar for residential or to support a small business to place solar on top of a roof or on the property up to the limits allowed for residential or a small business.
A detailed article reviewing the revised ordinances to amend the Climax Township zoning ordinance to provide zoning regulations for solar energy systems within the township and the revised battery energy storage system revised ordinance will be published in the September 6 Climax Crescent.
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