Zeeland Township resident Jimmy Smallegan addresses RWE representatives during last Thursday’s meeting on the Silver Maple solar project. Smallegan and members of his family have been sued by project developer RWE because the company claims they signed leases allowing access to their property, then refused to allow them onto their land.
By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
The developer of the Silver Maple solar project in Zeeland and Jamestown townships will refile its application for the project with the state, reflecting a court decision earlier this year that allows Ottawa County to join the two townships as a party opposing its construction.
RWE project manager Joe Brochu and attorney Michael Vogt confirmed after a public meeting last Thursday at the Dozeman Center inside the Drenthe Grove Park that the German-based energy giant would refile its application “within the next month” with the Michigan Public Service Commission for the $330 million Silver Maple project.
“A whole new application will be submitted,” Brochu said. “It’ll be very similar to (the current application).”
If approved by MPSC, RWE would begin construction of Silver Maple next year, with the project to go fully online in the second quarter of 2029, Brochu said.
RWE initially applied for approval of the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project with the MPSC in early April under Public Act 233, the law that allows energy companies to bypass local communities and apply directly to the state for approval of utility-scale renewable energy projects. The MPSC had issued an order in October 2024 saying only local governmental units with zoning authority, such as townships, could qualify as affected local units for purposes of opposing the application.
However, in a May ruling, the Michigan Court of Appeals expanded the definition of who may qualify as an affected local unit to include counties. Since then, both Zeeland and Jamestown township boards have passed measures urging the county to intervene against Silver Maple.
In early July, RWE’s application was suspended at the company’s request so its legal team could evaluate the impact of the appellate court ruling.
In its application, RWE said it had secured leases on 52 parcels totaling 1,914 acres of farmland, about 60 percent in Zeeland Township. The application says 1,431 acres of land would be disturbed and the project would be built on 1,127 acres of fenced-in property.
Meanwhile, many community members remain steadfast in their opposition to Silver Maple. Last Thursday’s meeting drew a smaller turnout than a March public meeting at the Township Hall that attracted more than 200 people – about 125 people turned out for this one. But not a single speaker among the crowd spoke out in favor of the project.
“Leasing large amounts of farmland to non-local corporations shifts control of our land away from the people who live and work here,” said 13-year-old Keagan Russcher, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jeremy, and grandfather, Dennis, as hog farmers. “Over time, that leads to the unraveling of the local agriculture (community) – fewer farmers, fewer local businesses and less of a community identity that has defined this township for generations. This isn’t temporary. These solar projects often last 30-40 years – an entire generation of farming. Once that land is taken out of production, it’s not easily brought back.
“We understand the importance of renewable energy, but location matters. Prime farmland should not be the first choice when there are other alternatives available.”
In an email to the Zeeland Record earlier this year, Brochu wrote that the Silver Maple project is expected to impact 8.3 percent of total farmland in Zeeland Township and 4.5 percent of farmland in Jamestown Township.
Zeeland Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma illustrated the fight over Silver Maple as one about who gets to decide on issues affecting local communities.
“This is bigger than solar. This is about local control and decision-making. For RWE, this may be business, but for us, this is home,” Bosma said. “We know our roads. We know our farms, our families, our businesses, and our community. We understand the impact these decisions have on the people who live here.”
Local beef farmer Jim Nykamp said that large-scale solar projects disrupt the underground infrastructure that makes farming possible.
“Damage from industrial solar is not just possible, it’s inevitable,” Nykamp said. “Drainage tile systems are routinely crushed, severed and misaligned during solar construction, due to pile driving, trenching, heavy equipment, (and) grading. Once damaged, these systems no longer move water as designed.”
RWE officials say that after a solar project has reached the conclusion of its life cycle, it would restore the land back to its original condition. But residents aren’t buying the company’s claims.
Several residents spoke out regarding a lawsuit filed by RWE against members of the Smallegan family, which allege they signed leases for the developer to have access to their property, only to be denied access later. The property involved makes up about 30 percent of the land proposed for Silver Maple.
A motion hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for Friday morning before Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing. One of the defendants in the suit, Jimmy Smallegan, addressed Brochu directly during the meeting.
“Got a good neighborhood here, good people, good family, so, a lot of these people have asked a lot of the questions. I guess I'm just wondering, Joe, are you going to be in court … Friday with us, since your company’s suing us?” Smallegan asked.
Zeeland Record
The developer of the Silver Maple solar project in Zeeland and Jamestown townships will refile its application for the project with the state, reflecting a court decision earlier this year that allows Ottawa County to join the two townships as a party opposing its construction.
RWE project manager Joe Brochu and attorney Michael Vogt confirmed after a public meeting last Thursday at the Dozeman Center inside the Drenthe Grove Park that the German-based energy giant would refile its application “within the next month” with the Michigan Public Service Commission for the $330 million Silver Maple project.
“A whole new application will be submitted,” Brochu said. “It’ll be very similar to (the current application).”
If approved by MPSC, RWE would begin construction of Silver Maple next year, with the project to go fully online in the second quarter of 2029, Brochu said.
RWE initially applied for approval of the 200-megawatt Silver Maple project with the MPSC in early April under Public Act 233, the law that allows energy companies to bypass local communities and apply directly to the state for approval of utility-scale renewable energy projects. The MPSC had issued an order in October 2024 saying only local governmental units with zoning authority, such as townships, could qualify as affected local units for purposes of opposing the application.
However, in a May ruling, the Michigan Court of Appeals expanded the definition of who may qualify as an affected local unit to include counties. Since then, both Zeeland and Jamestown township boards have passed measures urging the county to intervene against Silver Maple.
In early July, RWE’s application was suspended at the company’s request so its legal team could evaluate the impact of the appellate court ruling.
In its application, RWE said it had secured leases on 52 parcels totaling 1,914 acres of farmland, about 60 percent in Zeeland Township. The application says 1,431 acres of land would be disturbed and the project would be built on 1,127 acres of fenced-in property.
Meanwhile, many community members remain steadfast in their opposition to Silver Maple. Last Thursday’s meeting drew a smaller turnout than a March public meeting at the Township Hall that attracted more than 200 people – about 125 people turned out for this one. But not a single speaker among the crowd spoke out in favor of the project.
“Leasing large amounts of farmland to non-local corporations shifts control of our land away from the people who live and work here,” said 13-year-old Keagan Russcher, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jeremy, and grandfather, Dennis, as hog farmers. “Over time, that leads to the unraveling of the local agriculture (community) – fewer farmers, fewer local businesses and less of a community identity that has defined this township for generations. This isn’t temporary. These solar projects often last 30-40 years – an entire generation of farming. Once that land is taken out of production, it’s not easily brought back.
“We understand the importance of renewable energy, but location matters. Prime farmland should not be the first choice when there are other alternatives available.”
In an email to the Zeeland Record earlier this year, Brochu wrote that the Silver Maple project is expected to impact 8.3 percent of total farmland in Zeeland Township and 4.5 percent of farmland in Jamestown Township.
Zeeland Township Supervisor Kerri Bosma illustrated the fight over Silver Maple as one about who gets to decide on issues affecting local communities.
“This is bigger than solar. This is about local control and decision-making. For RWE, this may be business, but for us, this is home,” Bosma said. “We know our roads. We know our farms, our families, our businesses, and our community. We understand the impact these decisions have on the people who live here.”
Local beef farmer Jim Nykamp said that large-scale solar projects disrupt the underground infrastructure that makes farming possible.
“Damage from industrial solar is not just possible, it’s inevitable,” Nykamp said. “Drainage tile systems are routinely crushed, severed and misaligned during solar construction, due to pile driving, trenching, heavy equipment, (and) grading. Once damaged, these systems no longer move water as designed.”
RWE officials say that after a solar project has reached the conclusion of its life cycle, it would restore the land back to its original condition. But residents aren’t buying the company’s claims.
Several residents spoke out regarding a lawsuit filed by RWE against members of the Smallegan family, which allege they signed leases for the developer to have access to their property, only to be denied access later. The property involved makes up about 30 percent of the land proposed for Silver Maple.
A motion hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for Friday morning before Ottawa County Circuit Judge Jon Hulsing. One of the defendants in the suit, Jimmy Smallegan, addressed Brochu directly during the meeting.
“Got a good neighborhood here, good people, good family, so, a lot of these people have asked a lot of the questions. I guess I'm just wondering, Joe, are you going to be in court … Friday with us, since your company’s suing us?” Smallegan asked.
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