A solar project was proposed in Ingersoll Township, located in the southeast part of Midland County.
"At this point, it's only been proposed," Kim Heisler, Ingersoll Township Supervisor, said. "There's been quite a bit of opposition, which I'm not really surprised about."
A solar project can produce electricity using sunlight, which could vary between rooftop solar panels or solar panels in fields, according to Hero Future Energies.
If approved, it would be own by DTE Energy, and would be located in five sections across the township.
"But their drawings, their site plan will only have 620 acres that have actual panels on them," Heisler said.
It was talked about at the Ingersoll Township Planning Commission meeting on March 16.
Residents brought up concerns about the impact of property values, environmental concerns, noise ordinance compliance, agricultural land use, visual impacts, adequacy of communication and short-term versus long-term economic benefits.
But, support was included on the economic benefits with job creation, positive experiences with DTE, renewable energy, support for landowner rights and minimal day-to-day operational impact.
Carolyn Porritt is a landowner in Ingersoll Township. She recently spoke at a planning commission meeting about her opinion on the project.
"I think this will be wonderful as long as what is said is going to happen, happens," she said. "So, I'm really depending on the Ingersoll Township Board to stay on top of that."
Heisler said the township board will not give the final decision on this project, but all of the planning commission, besides one member, will decide.
"The people who are gaining from this, the ones specifically," Heisler said. "The people whose land that are involved, are not involved in making the decision on whether it passes or not."
