Renewable Energy and Storage Facility Siting

One common subject of interest in renewable energy developments is setbacks. A "setback" is the amount of space between the nearest edge of the perimeter fencing of a proposed facility and a permanent structure or feature. PA 233 defines minimum required setbacks by project type, as follows:

For Solar Installations

Solar installations must be surrounded by a fence, and setback distances are measured from the enclosing fence. Installations must be 50 feet from the edge of the nearest public road right-of-way as well as from the property lines of nonparticipating parties. Solar installations must also be at least 300 feet from the nearest point on the outside wall of occupied structures on nonparticipating properties.

View Solar Setback Requirements Graphic

For Energy Storage Installations

The required setbacks for energy storage installations are the same as those for solar installations: 50 feet to the nearest public road right-of-way and to the nearest shared nonparticipating property line, and 300 feet from the nearest outside wall of an occupied structure on a nonparticipating property.

View Energy Storage Setback Requirements Graphic

For Wind Installations

Setback distances for wind are measured from the base of the tower and are a multiple of the maximum blade tip height, which is the height from the base of the tower to the tip of the blade when the blade is fully extended. Wind installations must be 1.1x the maximum blade tip height to the nearest public road, utility transmission lines, structures on participating properties, and non-participating property lines. Wind installations must also be 2.1 times the maximum blade tip height to the nearest occupied building or residences located on nonparticipating properties.

View Wind Setback Requirements Graphic

The Renewable Energy Academy (REA) within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has produced resources for those with interest in the PA 233 process. The REA also administers the Renewable Ready Communities Award (RRCA), a state-wide renewable energy development incentive program. Find more information below.

• EGLE Renewable Energy Academy
• EGLE Renewables Ready Communities Award

Under Public Act 233 of 2023, developers seeking to file a siting application with the MPSC are required to conduct consultation with certain state and local agencies and tribal governments. To help facilitate those consultations, MPSC Staff has collected contact information, where available, to which PA 233-related requests should be addressed. Resources will continue to be added to this list, as they are made available to MPSC Staff.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Contact Scott Hicks, Michigan Ecological Services Field Supervisor, at scott_hicks@fws.gov.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI-DNR)

Developers are encouraged to review the Michigan DNR’s Best Management Practices (BMPs) for energy facilities and wildlife in Michigan, available for solar and wind. Portions of the BMPs for solar/wind technologies relating to construction, fencing, etc. may also be relevant for energy storage facilities.

Contact Christopher Hoving, Adaptation Specialist, at hovingc@michigan.gov.

State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)

Developers are encouraged to fill out the SHPO PA 233 Pre-Application Consultation Form, according to the instructions provided by SHPO, both provided at this webpage.

Send the completed form to Scott Slagor, Cultural Resource Protection Manager, at slagors2@michigan.gov.

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

Contact Anita Singh, EGLE Permit Coordinator, at singha3@michigan.gov.

• EGLE Water Resources Division Pre-Application meetings, MiEnviro database, and the Joint Permit Application process can be found at www.mi.gov/jointpermit.
• EGLE Waste Data System (WDS) tracks activities at sites regulated by the Solid Waste, Scrap Tire, Hazardous Waste, and Liquid Industrial Waste programs.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has created a form, MDARD PA 233 Consultation Form, to aid in the consultative process between developers and the Department. Applicants should follow the prompts and submit a completed version of the form, along with any associated documentation, to MDARD through the following email address: MDARD-ConsultationsMPSC@michigan.gov.

County Drain Offices 

The Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners has created a sample form to prepare developers for the type of information that may be needed for the County Drain Commissioner consultation. Requirements will vary by jurisdiction – developers are requested to directly contact the county drain office for the counties in which the project is proposed.

To find contact information for the relevant county drain offices, visit the Michigan Association of County Drain Commissioners webpage.

Owners of Major Utility Infrastructure

The Commission’s GIS Hub contains maps showing electric and natural gas utility service areas, as well as major oil and gas pipelines. Outreach to other entities may be necessary, on a case-by-case basis.

Tribal Governments

All requests should be addressed to each Michigan Tribal Historic Preservation Officer and/or Tribal Cultural Representative, not to the Tribal Governments generally. Contact information for those individuals can be found on this webpage.