By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, Mich. — A New York-based solar power company has announced plans to construct a solar power farm in Shiawassee County. Ranger Power, based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, announced Oct. 17 it plans to invest $250 million in two townships in the county to construct a solar power farm on 1,200 acres of mostly farmland. The project will take place in Hazelton and Venice townships in Shiawassee County, located about 90 miles northwest of Detroit, and will generate up to 239 megawatts, according to company officials. The company said the project will create hundreds of jobs, pump economic benefits and tax income into communities and help local farmers. In a press release, the company said it's taking a “community first” approach, working with landowners and local residents and meeting with stakeholders to hear their thoughts and answer any questions. A solar farm is likely to be less controversial than a wind power project. For one, solar panels only stand 16 feet off the ground. Since there aren't any turbine blades turning, there will be no issue with shadow flicker or with noise from the blades. According to Ranger Power Director of Permitting Sergio Trevino, most of the property used will be farmland, although a small amount of it could be wooded areas. Trevino and company Development Manager Sean Harris were careful to say the project would not be constructed on any lands that are environmentally sensitive, such as wetlands or in areas where there are endangered animals. “We're going to leave wooded areas as is,” Trevino said in an interview last week. “We've been out here for about a year, and we've spoken with a lot of landowners and others. To date no one has said anything negative about the project. We're very optimistic about it.” The company says the project, called the Assembly Solar Project, is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 394,000 tons annually in the short term – equivalent to the yearly emissions of 77,702 cars. According to an analysis by the Anderson Economic Group commissioned by Ranger Power, the project will result in construction money spent in Shiawassee County of $16 million, result in an increase of $3.2 million in household earnings in the county and create 321 construction jobs during the building project. The economic analysis predicts $203 million in construction spending for the state as a whole from the project and the creation of 2,926 jobs statewide. Trevino said there will be no concrete used to make the solar panel platforms and that construction will be “low impact.” “With our organization's mission of growing the local economy, we are encouraged by the interest in solar development,” said Justin Horvath, president and CEO of the Shiawassee Economic Development Corp. “These developments offer numerous benefits, such as rental income to landowners, contributing property taxes to various governmental entities and the creation of construction jobs for area workers.” Ranger Power is working with eight landowners on the project, most of whom are farmers, Trevino said. Most of them will continue farming on the part of their land not impacted by the project. He said the compensation they will receive will serve as a kind of “backstop” for them financially, but did not say what landowners will get in the way of compensation. “I think it's safe to say they will make more than what they would get with any crops,” Trevino added. |
