How Big Is Too Big? Michigan’s New Solar Projects Spark Local Pushback in Eaton County

As Michigan ramps up solar to meet its clean energy goals, a new 2,000-acre project near Eaton Rapids is testing how far communities are willing to go.

Michigan’s clean energy transition is accelerating. Utility-scale solar farms are appearing across the state as part of Michigan’s commitment to reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. But in parts of Eaton and Jackson Counties, that growth is creating new tensions. A proposed 2,100-acre solar farm called the Fiddlehead Solar Project is now at the center of a heated debate over land use, local control, and the future of renewable energy development.

The Fiddlehead Solar Project: What’s Being Proposed

The Fiddlehead Solar Energy Center, developed by Chicago-based Hecate Energy, would cover roughly 2,100 acres of farmland in Hamlin Township, Brookfield Township, and Springport Township near Eaton Rapids. The project’s website says it would generate about 225 megawatts of power, enough to serve around 27,000 homes, while providing new tax revenue and lease income for participating landowners.

Hecate Energy describes the project on its official site at https://www.springportsolarfarm.com/about/. Fox 47 News also reported on the project in early October 2025, confirming its location and scale at https://www.fox47news.com/neighborhoods/charlotte-eaton-rapids/2-000-acre-renewable-energy-project-proposed-for-eaton-rapids.

For supporters, the Fiddlehead project represents progress toward Michigan’s clean energy targets under Public Act 235 of 2023, which raised the state’s renewable energy standard to 60 percent by 2035 and 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. But for many residents, the size of the project feels overwhelming. They say the proposal would change the rural character of their community and take too much farmland out of production.

The Policy Backdrop: Why State Law Is in the Spotlight

Much of the controversy surrounding the Fiddlehead project stems from Public Act 233 of 2023, which changed how large renewable energy projects are approved in Michigan.

Under this law, if a solar project exceeds 50 megawatts and a township’s zoning ordinance is considered more restrictive than state standards, the developer can apply directly to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for approval. This process was created to streamline permitting and help the state meet its clean energy goals more efficiently.

The MPSC summarizes this authority on its Energy Legislation page at https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/commission/workgroups/2023-energy-legislation, and the full text of the law is available at https://www.michigan.gov/legislature/publicact/2023-PA-0233.pdf.

Renewable energy advocates say the law brings consistency and fairness to project reviews and prevents local bans from stalling progress. Local officials, however, argue that it weakens township authority over zoning and land use. They contend that local residents, not state regulators, should decide how agricultural land is used.

The Fiddlehead project is one of the first large solar farms expected to use this new MPSC siting pathway. That makes Eaton and Jackson Counties a testing ground for how Public Act 233 will work in practice.

Local Reactions: Community Concerns and Petitions

Community reaction has been strong. Public meetings and open houses held in Hamlin, Brookfield, and Springport Townships during September and October 2025 drew significant attendance.

Residents have launched petitions and public campaigns urging local officials and the MPSC to reject or delay the project. Concerns include loss of farmland, visual impacts, drainage and water table effects, and uncertainty about decommissioning plans once the project reaches the end of its life.

The Lansing State Journal covered these reactions in its October 27, 2025 report at https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2025/10/27/eaton-county-solar-project-hamlin-brookfield-springport-townships-mpsc/86818447007. WKAR also reported on the growing tension in Mid-Michigan communities facing large-scale solar development at https://www.wkar.org/wkar-news/2025-10-15/two-mid-michigan-counties-two-big-solar-projects-and-one-growing-question-how-much-is-too-much.

Some landowners leasing their property to Hecate Energy have publicly supported the project, saying that solar payments could stabilize their farm operations. Others feel the scale is too large for their community’s character. The divide illustrates how solar development can be both an economic opportunity and a cultural flashpoint in rural Michigan.

The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake for Michigan Solar Growth

To reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2040, Michigan will need many gigawatts of new solar capacity across the next decade. Regional studies from the Department of Energy, NREL, and MISO show that large-scale solar must play a major role in replacing retiring coal and gas generation.

Projects like Fiddlehead are essential to that buildout, yet opposition at the local level is becoming a defining challenge. Similar disputes have emerged in Midland, Livingston, and other counties as communities work to balance renewable energy goals with farmland preservation and local planning.

The MPSC has emphasized that its new siting process is meant to add consistency, not remove community voices. The Commission encourages townships to adopt compatible renewable energy ordinances that align with state standards while maintaining some local authority over issues such as setbacks, screening, and visual mitigation.

The question for Michigan in 2025 is how to achieve statewide clean energy goals without leaving local residents feeling sidelined in the process.

What Comes Next: Hearings, Decisions, and Lessons for Developers

As of November 2025, Hecate Energy is preparing to file its official MPSC application for the Fiddlehead Solar Project. The company has completed several community meetings and environmental studies and expects to submit its formal application by the end of 2025. The project’s permitting schedule is listed at https://www.springportsolarfarm.com/permitting/.

Township leaders and local residents have signaled they plan to participate fully in the MPSC review process. Public hearings and comment opportunities are expected once the filing is complete.

Elsewhere in Michigan, municipalities are watching closely. Some have already updated their ordinances to align with state standards. For example, Genoa Township in Livingston County adopted new solar zoning rules in early 2025 to maintain local control under Public Act 233, as reported by WHMI at https://www.whmi.com/news/article/47007.

For solar developers, the lessons are becoming clear:

Engage early and consistently with township boards and residents before filing permits.
Be transparent about environmental protection, land restoration, and long-term site management.
Connect projects to local benefits, such as tax revenue, school funding, and farm income stability.

Michigan’s clean energy goals will require rapid solar expansion, but success will depend on public trust. The debate around the Fiddlehead Solar Project shows that energy transition in Michigan is not just about megawatts or acres. It is about people, place, and how communities want to shape their own energy future.

Michigan Solar Partners