Protect Michigan’s Farmland: Reverse MDARD’s Policy for Allowing Industrial Utility Scale Power Plant Development on PA 116 Lands

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the recent decision by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to allow utility-scale solar power plants on the agricultural land enrolled in the department's Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program.

Public Act 342 of 2016 creates an expectation for power companies in Michigan to produce 35% of their demonstrated need (of power) in green energy. This sounds good in concept, but there are many details to be ironed out to make it work, and it is very important for power plants of this nature to be placed in appropriate locations that won't have a detrimental impact on their surrounding environments. 

The trouble is that last year, when MDARD created its policy to allow industrial solar zoning on PA 116 land, it created a situation where communities without enough commercial or industrial-zoned land available for green power production may have to offer up their farmland, and makes them vulnerable to litigation from massive power corporations, something that America's farmers and rural communities should never have to worry about. 

We believe that this decision undermines the core purpose of the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program, which was created to protect our state's valuable agricultural land for future generations. Opening up to utility-scale solar power plant development on this land threatens to displace valuable agricultural land, harm rural communities, and undermine our food production capacity. This should not be any more acceptable than putting a regular coal power plant on ag land would be, and there are many industrial areas across the state that would be suitable for utility-scale solar. 

Therefore, we call for a ballot initiative that would reverse MDARD's decision and uphold its commitment to protecting Michigan's farmland. This initiative would prohibit the use of land enrolled in the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program for commercial solar array purposes, while still allowing for the development of personal renewable energy installations.

We believe that there are alternative ways to meet our green energy needs without compromising our agricultural land. We urge MDARD to prioritize the development of these alternative clean energy sources and to work with local communities to find appropriate locations for renewable energy development that do not threaten our farmland.

We call on all concerned citizens to join us in this effort to protect Michigan's agricultural land. We demand that MDARD revise their policy to protect agricultural land and reverse their policy on zoning agricultural land for industrial solar arrays. We urge our elected officials to listen to the voices of their constituents and to support a ballot initiative to reverse MDARD's policy and protect our farmland for future generations.