COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – While the groundbreaking ceremony is next week for a huge solar farm being developed by DTE Energy in Coldwater, Quincy, and Butler townships, work continues on another large project in Coldwater and Ovid townships.
Apex Clean Energy is developing Coldwater Solar, a 150 megawatt solar energy facility that they say should generate enough energy to power up to 27,000 homes per year.
The project has received special use permits from both townships and is currently under construction. The project is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2025.
Coldwater Solar says it offers a new source of economic development for the community, with long-term local tax revenue for schools, government services, and public infrastructure totaling about $30 million over the project’s lifetime. The power from Coldwater Solar will be delivered into the local Michigan electrical grid.
The destruction of this area is unexcusable. It will be a eyesore from now on and this power source will be outdated in a few short years leaving a wasteland. Millions of dollars wasted. History will not look kindly on this folly.
Solar is environmentally productive and no more unattractive than fallow, weedy, untended open land. It’s also a little magical to observe the panels moving sunflower-like to face the sun. And it’s fun to point out the occasional panel that fails until repaired to join with the swaying crowd.