COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Apex Clean Energy’s Coldwater Solar project is moving forward after it recently received the necessary permit approvals from Coldwater and Ovid Townships.
The project received approval for its special use permit for facilities in Coldwater Township on January 31, which will have the capacity to generate up to 55 MW of solar energy.
The Ovid Township portion of the project was approved February 13, which has a generating capacity of approximately 95 MW.
Coldwater Solar officials say the 150 MW project will generate enough clean energy to power about 27,000 homes annually.
Apex Clean Energy developer Connor Podkul says, “Coldwater Solar is a better project because of the public feedback and township input we received from numerous public information sessions, door-to-door conversations, and township meetings held over the past three years. We want to thank everyone in the community who engaged with our team and provided feedback throughout the entire process.”
Not everyone in Branch County is happy about the proposed project. Some have posted blistering criticism about it and Coldwater Solar on social media platforms saying the company and those who leased their property to the company were greedy.
Opponents have also raised concerns about potential impacts on agricultural land and property values.
Coldwater Solar says they will provide an economic boost to the Coldwater area as the project is expected to create hundreds of jobs and significant local spending during construction, as well as a few permanent operations jobs.
They point out the project’s economic impact study says new tax revenue will total more than $20 million.
Apex plans to begin construction on the project early next year with plans to have the project on the grid by the middle of 2025.
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