QUINCY, MI (WTVB) – Quincy Township officials voted this week, to hire the statewide law firm Foster Swift Collins & Smith to assist in drafting a new zoning ordinance for a proposed utility-scale battery energy storage facility.
The decision followed a presentation by attorney Keith Brown, a specialist in renewable energy zoning, and comes as the township faces growing pressure from residents opposing the project on Boone Road.
Township Supervisor Kurt Barve said the goal is to “do everything possible” to protect the community’s interests while navigating the complexities of Michigan’s Public Act 233 of 2023, which grants the state power to override local zoning for renewable energy projects.
The proposed facility, known as the Santina Energy project, is an 180-megawatt system planned by EDF Renewables for a 45-acre site. While the developer has not yet submitted a formal application, it expects the facility to be operational by 2030.
Concerns from Quincy area residents have centered on potential safety hazards, including lithium-ion battery fires, groundwater contamination, and the loss of agricultural land.
By hiring legal counsel, the township aims to create a “battery energy storage control ordinance” with strong requirements that can withstand state scrutiny and maintain local oversight.
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