Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Silver Maple Solar, PA 233 and what Zeeland Charter Township is doing.
About the Development
What is the Silver Maple Solar facility?
Silver Maple Solar is a proposed 200-megawatt solar energy generation facility from RWE. The industrial-scale development would cover more than 1,900 acres of agricultural land south of I-196 near Ottawa Executive Airport, across Zeeland Charter Township and Jamestown Charter Township.
For context, 1,900 acres is about the same size as the entire City of Zeeland. The development will affect an even greater area because it is non-contiguous, stretching across a patchwork of many properties, roads and drain systems.
Who is RWE?
RWE is an international energy company and one of the largest renewable energy developers in the U.S. RWE first filed with the MPSC on April 3, 2026, and refiled in September 2026 following a Court of Appeals ruling.
Local Control & PA 233
What is PA 233?
Michigan Public Act 233 of 2023 gives developers of qualifying wind, solar and energy storage facilities the option to ask the state for a siting certificate instead of collaborating with local townships. The law took effect in November 2024.
Under PA 233, three appointed state commissioners will make the final decision on Silver Maple Solar. Zeeland Charter Township residents didn’t elect them and can’t vote them out. For decades, Michigan communities have made their own land-use decisions, and that’s why local control matters.
Why can't the township just say no?
Because RWE filed its application under PA 233, the MPSC will make the final decision. Interested parties may request to participate in a PA 233 case, and Zeeland Charter Township is participating to contend for the development’s rejection.
Is the township against solar energy?
No. In fact, Zeeland Township supports reliable, secure and diverse energy, including the thoughtful development of solar. The township’s opposition to this facility is not about solar energy. It’s about preserving our farmland and protecting local control, including the ability to establish zoning that reflects the desires of our residents.
What about the landowners who signed leases?
Landowners who signed leases made decisions about their own property. However, local zoning ordinances define which uses are permitted for any given property. Residents help shape these guiding laws, and what our community should look like in 40 to 50 years, each time we update our master plan or make changes to our zoning map.
Why did the Township receive “Intervenor Funds” from RWE?
State law requires it. Under PA 233, a developer seeking State approval must give each affected local government a grant to help it take part in the MPSC case. Zeeland Charter Township received the grant twice, at $75k and $50k because RWE has reapplied for approval through MPSC.
The money is designated for the costs of participating in the case, such as legal counsel and expert witnesses, and any unused funds must be returned to RWE. The Township’s costs will exceed that amount.
Accepting these funds does not mean the Township supports Silver Maple Solar.
Farmland & Community Impact
Why does farmland preservation matter?
Under PA 233, one of the standards for state approval is that a facility will not unreasonably diminish farmland.
According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Ottawa County ranks third among Michigan’s 83 counties in agricultural sales and first in crop sales. The county’s farm sales grew 43% from 2017 to 2022, and agribusiness is an important growth engine for the local economy. Taking nearly 2,000 acres out of production for decades removes that land from the agricultural economy that drives growth here.
Zeeland Charter Township is currently exploring a program similar to Ottawa County’s purchase of development rights to help support this important initiative.
Wouldn't the development bring in tax revenue?
Tax revenue is one consideration, but our master plan reflects the long-term priorities residents set for this community, and we believe those decisions belong within our local government.
What happens when the facility is decommissioned?
PA 233 requires facilities to be decommissioned in a way that returns participating properties to a useful condition similar to what existed before construction. Developers must submit a decommissioning plan that includes a site restoration plan and financial assurance. There is limited experience in decommissioning utility-scale solar in the Midwest, and we do not know what the long-term effects on soil or the local ecology will look like.
Will the solar panels affect pilots at Ottawa Executive Airport?
We have heard this concern from residents and are gathering input from local pilots and the airport. The Federal Aviation Administration’s 2021 policy on solar glare focuses on solar facilities located on airport property.
Getting Involved
What is the township doing to oppose the development?
The township is using virtually every legal means to oppose the development. Zeeland Charter Township is intervening in the MPSC case. It has filed a lawsuit arguing that the state law removing local oversight of energy development is unconstitutional. The township has also adopted a moratorium on new data centers and energy facilities to protect local planning. In addition, township officials have sent letters to state and federal leaders seeking to build united, bipartisan opposition to the erosion of local zoning control. The letter was hand-delivered to U.S. Secretary Wright during his October 2026 visit to Michigan.
How can I share my opinion?
Residents can submit comments to the MPSC by mail, by email or directly through the MPSC’s e-dockets system. The Silver Maple Solar case number is U-22071.
You can also share your thoughts directly with the township through our Share Your Voice form.
Where can I learn more?
Visit our News & Updates page for the latest on the MPSC case and the township’s response.
Community members are welcome and encouraged to attend our community update on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Zeeland Charter Township Office (Lower Level).
For additional questions, contact the Zeeland Charter Township Office at (616) 772-6701.
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