This map depicts the area of the proposed Silver Maple project. The portion of Zeeland Township most affected by the project is bordered by Air Park Drive, Adams Street, 48th Avenue and I-196.
Photo courtesy RWE
Photo courtesy RWE
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The developer of the proposed $300 million Silver Maple solar energy project in Zeeland and Jamestown townships will hold a series of public meetings next week to outline its site plan for the project and get input from the community.
RWE Clean Energy, a German-based company with its U.S. headquarters in Texas, will hold the first meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Evergreen Ministries, 4512 48th Ave., and then conduct the following two meetings next Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Zeeland Township Hall, 6582 Byron Rd.
“This is not a township-organized and held meeting,” Zeeland Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said of the meetings to be held at the Township Hall. “(RWE) rented the room. How they run the meeting is up to them.”
RWE is planning to apply to the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval of the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project. The company is applying for the project under the entity name Silver Maple PV, LLC, according to the project website.
The project has generated heated opposition from township residents who are concerned that it will hurt local agriculture and the township’s rural character.
“It is disappointing to see the (Public Act) 233 state rule allow companies like RWE to overtake prime farmland in rural communities, regardless of local ordinances and master plans,” said Christi Meppelink, a township resident who has spoken out against the Silver Maple project since it was first proposed late last summer. “These initiatives are pitting neighbors against each other, but we need to come together to keep this from changing the future of our townships.”
According to the project website, Silver Maple will consist of solar panels and inverters arranged in photovoltaic arrays, along with associated facilities and infrastructure. The project is proposed to cover 52 parcels of land, totaling 1,914 acres, in Zeeland and Jamestown townships. All of the parcels are zoned either agricultural or agricultural rural residential, according to project documents.
“The Project will primarily convert areas of agricultural crop development (approximately 90 percent of the Project Area) into solar energy development with grassed ground cover, elevated solar panels, and gravel driveways to site equipment,” RWE’s environmental consultant, SWCA Environmental Consultants, wrote in its report that is being submitted to the MPSC as part of the developer’s application.
The portion of Zeeland Township most affected by Silver Maple is generally within an area bordered by Ottawa Executive Airport on the west, Adams Street on the south, 48th Avenue at the township line on the east and Interstate 196 on the north, according to the project map.
“Although the solar modules will be visible and individually distinguishable from adjacent roadways and properties, they will be installed on portions of cultivated farmland that are already open to view,” SWCA wrote in its report. “Their repeating, horizontal layout will mimic the uniformity of traditional row crops. Additionally, the solar panels have an anti-glare coating to minimize glare during various tilt positions.”
SWCA further goes on to say that the area within the project’s fence line will be planted with a native pollinator seed mix, which it says “will not only support pollinator habitats, but also contribute to the Project Area’s aesthetic.” In addition, the consultant says the project “will incorporate design elements such as setbacks, perimeter fencing, vegetative buffers and pollinator-friendly landscaping.”
RWE’s application comes as the township has been developing what’s defined as a “workable incompatible ordinance” that is stricter than Public Act 233, the current state law regulating renewable energy projects, but not so strict that a developer may bypass the township entirely and seek approval through the MPSC.
A newly-rewritten draft township ordinance which addresses solar, wind and battery storage projects was to be discussed at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting.
As RWE prepares for its meetings, the company has been mailing out pamphlets about the Silver Maple project – and not just to residents in the townships where the project is planned. The Zeeland Record received reports of pamphlets being received by residents in the cities of Zeeland and Hudsonville.
“As the project benefits extend beyond just the two townships, we consider all (Ottawa) county residents to be critical stakeholders and aim to keep them informed – through in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, and hand out materials,” RWE spokeswoman Kellie Woods wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “We believe in open and transparent engagement with all community members and encourage people to reach out to us.”
As of Tuesday morning, no application for the project had been filed with the MPSC, according to the commission’s website.
Written comments are being accepted for those who might not be able to attend next week’s meetings. They may be sent beforehand to project manager Joe Brochu at silvermaplesolar@rwe.com. You can find the complete RWE site plan for Silver Maple online at swcavirutalpublicinvolve ment.com/silver-maple-solar.
Zeeland Record
The developer of the proposed $300 million Silver Maple solar energy project in Zeeland and Jamestown townships will hold a series of public meetings next week to outline its site plan for the project and get input from the community.
RWE Clean Energy, a German-based company with its U.S. headquarters in Texas, will hold the first meeting next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Evergreen Ministries, 4512 48th Ave., and then conduct the following two meetings next Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Zeeland Township Hall, 6582 Byron Rd.
“This is not a township-organized and held meeting,” Zeeland Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma said of the meetings to be held at the Township Hall. “(RWE) rented the room. How they run the meeting is up to them.”
RWE is planning to apply to the Michigan Public Service Commission for approval of the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project. The company is applying for the project under the entity name Silver Maple PV, LLC, according to the project website.
The project has generated heated opposition from township residents who are concerned that it will hurt local agriculture and the township’s rural character.
“It is disappointing to see the (Public Act) 233 state rule allow companies like RWE to overtake prime farmland in rural communities, regardless of local ordinances and master plans,” said Christi Meppelink, a township resident who has spoken out against the Silver Maple project since it was first proposed late last summer. “These initiatives are pitting neighbors against each other, but we need to come together to keep this from changing the future of our townships.”
According to the project website, Silver Maple will consist of solar panels and inverters arranged in photovoltaic arrays, along with associated facilities and infrastructure. The project is proposed to cover 52 parcels of land, totaling 1,914 acres, in Zeeland and Jamestown townships. All of the parcels are zoned either agricultural or agricultural rural residential, according to project documents.
“The Project will primarily convert areas of agricultural crop development (approximately 90 percent of the Project Area) into solar energy development with grassed ground cover, elevated solar panels, and gravel driveways to site equipment,” RWE’s environmental consultant, SWCA Environmental Consultants, wrote in its report that is being submitted to the MPSC as part of the developer’s application.
The portion of Zeeland Township most affected by Silver Maple is generally within an area bordered by Ottawa Executive Airport on the west, Adams Street on the south, 48th Avenue at the township line on the east and Interstate 196 on the north, according to the project map.
“Although the solar modules will be visible and individually distinguishable from adjacent roadways and properties, they will be installed on portions of cultivated farmland that are already open to view,” SWCA wrote in its report. “Their repeating, horizontal layout will mimic the uniformity of traditional row crops. Additionally, the solar panels have an anti-glare coating to minimize glare during various tilt positions.”
SWCA further goes on to say that the area within the project’s fence line will be planted with a native pollinator seed mix, which it says “will not only support pollinator habitats, but also contribute to the Project Area’s aesthetic.” In addition, the consultant says the project “will incorporate design elements such as setbacks, perimeter fencing, vegetative buffers and pollinator-friendly landscaping.”
RWE’s application comes as the township has been developing what’s defined as a “workable incompatible ordinance” that is stricter than Public Act 233, the current state law regulating renewable energy projects, but not so strict that a developer may bypass the township entirely and seek approval through the MPSC.
A newly-rewritten draft township ordinance which addresses solar, wind and battery storage projects was to be discussed at Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting.
As RWE prepares for its meetings, the company has been mailing out pamphlets about the Silver Maple project – and not just to residents in the townships where the project is planned. The Zeeland Record received reports of pamphlets being received by residents in the cities of Zeeland and Hudsonville.
“As the project benefits extend beyond just the two townships, we consider all (Ottawa) county residents to be critical stakeholders and aim to keep them informed – through in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, and hand out materials,” RWE spokeswoman Kellie Woods wrote in an email to the Zeeland Record. “We believe in open and transparent engagement with all community members and encourage people to reach out to us.”
As of Tuesday morning, no application for the project had been filed with the MPSC, according to the commission’s website.
Written comments are being accepted for those who might not be able to attend next week’s meetings. They may be sent beforehand to project manager Joe Brochu at silvermaplesolar@rwe.com. You can find the complete RWE site plan for Silver Maple online at swcavirutalpublicinvolve ment.com/silver-maple-solar.
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