INSANITY: Michigan is clearing over 400 acres of a forest to create rows of Chinese-made solar panels that just occasionally generate electricity.
And it’s not even going to help the environment. A recent study found “the loss of carbon-dioxide gobbling forests for solar… pic.twitter.com/UXhQTUoR8v
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) January 3, 2025
GAYLORD, MI – A 420-acre swath of state forestland will be cleared for a solar farm near Gaylord under a lease agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, confirmed a top state official.
Officials with the DNR recently assessed 1,200 acres of public trust land in Otsego County near a major power transmission line to decide whether it was suitable for solar arrays. Agency leaders ultimately decided to lease 35% of that land to accompany other adjacent solar projects already in the works.
This comes as the DNR faces dwindling revenues from hunting and fishing licenses, and Michigan falls behind building enough renewable energy fast enough to risk not meeting a key state climate goal – 100% clean energy by 2040.
Leasing 4,000 acres of public land statewide is part of the DNR’s plan to help remedy both problems in coming years. Officials said that state solar initiative may begin just west of Gaylord.
Forest for the trees
A public notice advertising competitive bidding for solar proposals on 420 acres of state land in Otsego County’s Hayes Township is expected to be published in coming days in both the Gaylord newspaper and on the DNR website, confirmed Scott Whitcomb, DNR director of public lands office.
He said the DNR will schedule a public hearing if requested by local governments and enough members of the public.
MLive filed a Freedom of Information Act request for documents and digital files associated with the project on Oct. 21, 2024, which remains pending.
State decision-makers know this choice will be criticized, Whitcomb said.
“Not incredibly popular with everyone. I will be frank about that.”
Deforesting land for renewable energy has become the focus of recent scientific study. Evidence from both Harvard University and Chinese researchers shows the loss of carbon-dioxide gobbling forests for solar installations results in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions – the air pollution which fuels the accelerating climate crisis.
…
Update: Michigan lawmakers call for DNR firings over plans to cut forest for solar near Gaylord
Update: Amid backlash, solar company won’t build on Michigan state land & won’t clear 420 acres of state forest
MI Healthy Climate Plan: Executive Directive 2020-10 charged the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), through its Office of Climate and Energy, with developing the MI Healthy Climate Plan, the state’s action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward economy-wide carbon neutrality.The Plan was developed with input from hundreds of Michigan residents, including leaders and advocates in Environmental Justice, public transit, local food, climate action, business, labor, academia, government, and people of all political persuasions and walks of life and was released in April 2022.
The objectives
The MI Healthy Climate Plan lays out a pathway for Michigan to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders. It has seven objectives:
- Mitigate the worst impacts of climate change
- Spur economic development and create good-paying jobs
- Protect and improve the health of Michiganders
- Position Michigan as a leader in climate action
- Protect our natural resources and wildlife
- Make Michigan energy independent
- Address environmental injustices
The implementation
The Roadmap to 2030 included in the MI Healthy Climate Plan provides key recommendations to reach our 2030 goals of reducing GHG emissions by 52% from 2005 baselines by 2030 in an equitable manner. Below is a summary of these recommendations.
