FAYETTE TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – State Representative Jennifer Wortz (R-Quincy) has criticized renewable energy developer Ranger Power following the company’s decision to sue Fayette Township after its planning commission unanimously rejected a special land use permit for the 1,380-acre Heartwood Solar II project near Jonesville.
Wortz accused the developer of using an expensive legal battle as financial leverage against local taxpayers while ignoring months of community opposition. She further noted that Ranger Power is bypassing the Michigan Public Service Commission appeal process outlined in Public Act 233 while raising concerns over potential discrepancies in decommissioning and salvage cost projections.
In an open letter Wortz said she was told by the staff from Ranger Power that they cared deeply about community feedback. She says ” They said they understood the concerns and wanted to work through them with the community as a partner, They said they wanted to pursue local siting with local input, because they didn’t want to go where they were not wanted “.
Wortz says “I left that meeting with some hope that more local feedback would be sought and heard out. But that has turned out to be just empty words”.
In a meeting with Ranger last week Wortz says she ask Ranger Power to respect what they told her this spring and not go where they are not wanted and respect the will of the people in Fayette Township.
But she says if they’re not willing to listen, then follow the law, and appeal to the MPSC. Defend this project there and try to convince them that this is a reasonable takeover of rural farm ground in a township. Defend why over twenty-five percent of farm ground and open space is needed for another solar project in Fayette Township.
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