This case is Michigan's first solar siting certificate, and the first settlement, under Public Acts 233 and 234 of 2023 (U-21932). On June 18, 2025, Acceleration Solar filed an application with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for a 90-megawatt (MW) solar project in Leslie Township, Onondaga Township, and Vevay Township in Ingham County. The Commission approved the settlement agreement on August 27, 2026, and the developer plans to begin construction in 2027.
The townships where the project would be located took part in the case, along with MPSC Staff. After reviewing the project and submitting testimony, the parties reached a settlement agreement and filed it for Commission consideration on July 31, 2026.
Public Act 233 of 2023 (PA 233) created a state‑level siting process for large renewable energy facilities—solar, wind, and storage—in specific situations. A developer may apply to the MPSC for siting approval after complying with the requirements of Sections 223 and 224 of PA 233. However, the affected townships (also referred to as affected local units or ALUs) maintain local control over siting of such facilities if each ALU notifies the developer that it has a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO), which allows for the development of large renewable energy facilities, and unless any of the following occurs:
Developers must follow the MPSC’s Application Filing Instructions and Procedures (AFIP), approved in Case U-21547.
In this case, the ALUs did not each have a CREO, and the matter was therefore brought before the Commission. Ingham County—an ALU under PA 233 as clarified by the Court of Appeals—chose not to participate in the case and instead reached a separate host agreement (community benefits agreement) with Acceleration Solar.
For additional information on the PA 233 process, including what qualifies as a CREO, please visit the Commission’s Renewable Energy and Storage Facility Siting web page.
The settlement agreement means that all parties—Acceleration Solar, MPSC Staff, and the three townships—agree on project conditions that resolve all issues in the case and request Commission approval of a siting certificate.
When a settlement agreement is filed, each party has fourteen days to file either agreement, objection, or statement of non-objection to the settlement (Administrative Hearing Rule 792.10431- Rule 431). Objecting parties are provided an opportunity to submit evidence and arguments in opposition to the settlement. In order to approve a proposed settlement agreement, the Commission must make the following findings:
If the parties had not settled, the case would have proceeded to a full contested hearing, followed by a Commission order determining whether a siting certificate would be granted and under what conditions.
The settlement establishes detailed requirements for project construction, noise control, screening, lighting, complaint resolution, decommissioning, financial assurance, and more. It also formalizes host community benefit payments of $2,000 per MW of the project and associated local commitments, including additional funding for public safety.
Acceleration Solar separately agreed to pay an impact fee of $2,000 per MW to Ingham County. Ingham County agreed to:
According to the settlement, decommissioning—or the process of taking a facility out of operation—is required after 12 months of non-operation unless otherwise approved by both the townships and the MPSC. The applicant is responsible for decommissioning costs and must post assurance for those costs before construction begins. The project’s decommissioning bond shall be posted with the MPSC. If the developer fails to begin decommissioning by the required timeline, the MPSC may initiate the process, drawing on that financial assurance.
When decommissioning the project, the applicant is required to remove all underground infrastructure regardless of depth and to restore the land to productive agricultural use across the entire project area.
The MPSC and townships will monitor the construction and management of the project to ensure compliance with the site plan and agreement. The applicant will continue reporting to the Commission throughout the project’s life. During construction, the applicant will submit monthly construction project reports to the MPSC and townships and, once the project is completed, they will report annually on energy production, complaints received, maintenance, and financial assurance. This reporting will continue throughout the life of the project.
The Commission must continue to carry out its responsibilities under Public Act 233 unless a court rules otherwise. PA 233 remains in effect, and state agencies are legally obligated to administer and enforce statutes that are currently in force. The Commission will continue processing applications, conducting contested cases, and evaluating settlements under PA 233 in accordance with In re Implementing Provisions of Public Act 233 of 2023, Michigan Court of Appeals Docket No. 373259, until the pending litigation is resolved.
This page explains how large-scale wind, solar, and battery projects are reviewed under the 2023 siting law. It outlines the application process, public and local government involvement, and minimum distance rules for safety. It also provides links to guidance, current project listings, and contact information for community members, landowners, and developers.
