1. Otsego County, Michigan – The Mitten State is proving just how hard it can be to build a solar project in wooded areas. Especially once Fox News gets involved.
- Last week, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said it wanted to lease more than 400 acres of undeveloped state-owned forestland for part of a much larger RWE Clean Energy solar project near the northern Michigan town of Gaylord.
- Officials said they were approached by the company about the land. But the news sparked an immediate outcry, as state elected Republicans – and some Democrats – demanded to know why a forest would be cleared for ‘green’ energy. Some called for government firings.
- Then came the national news coverage. On Friday, Fox News hosted a full four-minute segment focused on this one solar farm featuring iconoclastic activist Michael Shellenberger.
- A few days later, RWE told the media it would not develop the project on state lands.
- “[D]uring the development process, we conducted outreach to all landowners adjacent to the project location, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources,” the company said in a statement to the Petoskey News-Review, adding it instead decided to move forward with leasing property from two private landowners.
2. Atlantic County, New Jersey – Opponents of offshore wind in Atlantic City are trying to undo an ordinance allowing construction of transmission cables that would connect the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project to the grid.
- The ordinance was passed by the city council days before Christmas by a 5-4 vote, paving the way for easements crucial to the cables. Apparently the room was so packed with critics that the fire marshall had to step in.
- Now the backlash is coming to roost. Per local talk radio reports, activists this week submitted a petition to the city council opposing the ordinance with more than 3,000 signatures, a number apparently boosted by an endorsement from at least one large casino.
- Atlantic South was fully permitted by the Biden administration in a push to get as many offshore wind projects out the door as possible before Trump 2.0. But as we’ve previously explained, killing a cabling route can be a fatal blow to an offshore wind project – and it’s a major threat to growth in New Jersey. So we’ll be watching this closely.
3. Benton County, Washington – Sorry Scout Clean Energy, but the Yakima Nation is coming for Horse Heaven.
- The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation reportedly have appealed in state court the October approvals for the Horse Heaven wind farm, which appeared clear for take-off after a protracted fight over the project’s size.
- We previously told you this would be the worst case scenario for the Horse Heaven wind farm in Washington because the tribe has treaty rights that can be used in court.
Here’s what else we’re watching right now…
In Connecticut, officials have withdrawn from Vineyard Wind 2 — leading to the project being indefinitely shelved.
In Indiana, Invenergy just got a rejection from Marshall County for special use of agricultural lands.
In Kansas, residents in Dickinson County are filing legal action against county commissioners who approved Enel’s Hope Ridge wind project.
In Kentucky, a solar project was actually approved for once – this time for the East Kentucky Power Cooperative.
In North Carolina, Davidson County is getting a solar moratorium.
In Pennsylvania, the town of Unity rejected a solar project. Elsewhere in the state, the developer of the Newton 1 solar project is appealing their denial.
In South Carolina, a state appeals court has upheld the rejection of a 2,300 acre solar project proposed by Coastal Pine Solar.
In Washington State, Yakima County looks like it’ll keep its solar moratorium in place.
