FAYETTE TWP. — As officials reopened a public hearing on Heartwood Solar II from Ranger Power on May 7, Fayette Township Planning Commission Chairperson Jane Munson reminded residents to behave with decorum and respect.
Her words stemmed from a written complaint from an attendee who felt physically threatened during the ongoing public debate.
“We’ve had a lot of verbal abuse,” Munson said. “Everybody has a right to their opinion, but that opinion needs to be stated in a non-vicious way. We ask that you treat everyone with respect.”
Munson said anyone unable to control their behavior could be removed.
The public hearing continuation lasted just over two hours May 7, with officials noting increased tension surrounding the large-scale solar proposal. Heartwood II has faced sustained opposition since being introduced by Ranger Power — a national renewable energy developer — as an expansion of an existing utility-scale solar development on the other side of the municipality.
The project would cover more than 1,000 additional acres of agricultural land with solar panels, leading residents to raise concerns about farmland preservation, property values, drainage and long-term impacts on the rural community.
During the most recent meeting, public comment again focused overwhelmingly on opposition, with residents urging commissioners to reject the proposal outright and challenge PA 233, which transfers decision power over certain solar, wind and battery energy storage proposals to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
In previous presentations, Ranger Power has said the project would generate clean energy capable of powering thousands of homes, as well as tax revenue for local governments and schools.
When comment concluded, commissioners against voted to postpone a decision. It wasn’t immediately clear when discussions will resume.
The Fayette Township Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. May 13 at Jonesville Middle School, though a recommendation from the commission must come before a final decision from trustees.
— Contact reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @cmurrayhdn.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Fayette Twp. commissioners again delay decision on Heartwood Solar II
Reporting by Corey J. Murray, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
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