GAYLORD, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has decided not to lease 420 acres of state land near Gaylord for a proposed solar project. This decision comes after a whirlwind of public outcry over a project that was to transform a piece of land into a hub for renewable energy production.

When the DNR considered leasing it for solar development, opponents painted it as an untouched natural haven under siege by the state. Amid the uproar, RWE Renewables, the company initially interested in the lease, quietly withdrew its request.

A broader battle over renewable energy.

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This incident highlights the challenges Michigan faces in its transition to renewable energy. While the state needs open space for its wind and solar projects, local opposition has often been very vocal against it, sometimes leading to a derailment of proposals. The Gaylord controversy underscores the importance of having transparent communication and community engagement before advancing clean energy initiatives.

State officials say that leasing 4,000 acres of public land for solar projects is part of the DNR’s strategy to boost agency revenue and push Michigan closer to the Democratic lawmakers’ target of 100% clean energy by 2040.

Lawmakers override local voices to fast-Track solar takeover of land.

Democratic politicians even went ahead with legislation to move their plans forward with Public Act 233 at the end of 2023 which gives the Michigan Public Service Commission the authority to approve large-scale renewable energy projects, taking away local control.

However, after seeing what happened in Gaylord, the DNR now plans to develop a decision-making framework for future considerations of leasing state forestlands for solar energy, emphasizing early input from local communities and lawmakers.