HUDSONVILLE — Global energy company RWE held a public hearing March 17 to hear concerns from the public about a proposed 1,900-acre solar development in Zeeland Township and Jamestown Township.

The hearing was part of a pre-application process for the Michigan Public Service Commission under PA 233. Two more hearings followed at Zeeland Township offices.

The proposed 200-megawatt development, Silver Maple Solar, would occupy agricultural-zoned land south of Interstate 196 near Ottawa Executive Airport.

“There’s been communities in this world for hundreds of years that have gotten by without electricity, but never one that got by without food,” resident Loran Moyer said during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting.

The $330 million, 35-year project could power more than 34,000 homes, according to RWE. It’s hoping to start construction as early as 2027, but that timeline depends on which approval process developers choose to pursue.

PA 233 allows developers of utility-scale solar, wind and battery energy storage projects to seek approval directly from MPSC, unless all affected local governments have adopted ordinances that are no more restrictive than state standards. Zeeland Township previously indicated an interest in adopting a “Workable Incompatible Ordinance,” which permits large-scale projects, but has more constraints than a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance. Jamestown Township passed an ordinance in July 2025.

WIOs offer developers a feasible alternative to the more expensive, time-consuming and backlash-prone state process, but there’s no guarantee RWE will be interested — particularly after planning commissioners in Zeeland Township earlier this month leaned toward passing an Unworkable Incompatible Ordinance.

RWE hasn’t yet filed an application with MPSC, according to the state’s website. The site plan and documents can be viewed at tinyurl.com/ynzc2e9z.​

RWE began Tuesday’s hearing with a brief presentation and general overview of the project, including the process of approval through MPSC, economic impacts and permitting.

Development Manager Joe Brochu said the project’s location was chosen for transmission line capacity, flat and buildable land, landowner interest, proximity to areas with electricity need, and reliable permitting. During the hearing, RWE said the land would be restored for agricultural use after the development is decommissioned.

The project would reportedly produce $31.6 million in tax revenue, with about $15 million going toward local school districts.

“We are confident this is a big positive for (Zeeland Township),” Brochu told The Holland Sentinel.

Despite taking steps toward an application with MPSC, he added, RWE’s preference is to permit locally.

“A local route … provides the best opportunity to work directly with the townships, directly with the people who are going to live by the project,” Brochu told The Holland Sentinel. “Local routes usually take less time to approve. It’s less costly to draft the application … local is always our preference.”

RWE doesn’t plan to “close the door” on local permitting until it submits an official application, according to Brochu, largely because Zeeland Township is actively working on an ordinance.

“We’re focused right now on preparing for (the state) path while also having conversations locally,” he said. “We intend to proceed with the best permitting option available.”

Brochu said public opposition isn’t new for RWE.

“Any type of land use is always going to have multiple opinions, whether it’s a housing development, whether it’s solar,” he said. “We respect all those views — that’s why we have these public hearings.”

Most of the attendees, more than 100 in total, stood firmly against the project and clapped after each public comment.

“We will be fighting this (until) the very end,” Cadence DeVree said. “We will win because we actually care about our community.”

The crowd included multiple politicians, including gubernatorial candidate Tom Leonard and Ottawa County Commissioner Joe Moss. Representatives of Laborers Local 355 and several farmers who’ve chosen to lease their land to RWE also attended.

Dan Elzinga farmed his land for 42 years, but rising costs encouraged him to partner with RWE.

“We think this is a great opportunity to partner with solar because … we keep the land and there’s a real need right now for energy,” he said. “We see this as a way to keep the land in the family for the foreseeable future and, at some point in time, if our grandchildren or great-grandchildren want to farm, they’ll have an opportunity.”

“This land is my parents’ 401(k),” said Lisa Rumsey, the daughter of another farmer leasing to RWE. “I don’t understand why so many people have the right to dictate what they do. The contract with RWE is saving my family farm by allowing it to remain in the family and be utilized for purposes other than agricultural farming.”

Residents, however, worry about water and soil contamination, the loss of local control, decommissioning and impact on property values.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Holland Sentinel and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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