08/06/2026
County Calls Special Meeting on 1,000-Acre Solar Proposal
Gratiot County commissioners will hold a special meeting next Tuesday to determine whether local zoning rules comply with state standards for a proposed 1,000-acre solar development in Seville and Sumner townships.
The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Aug. 11 in the commissioners room at the Gratiot County Courthouse, 214 E. Center St. in Ithaca. The agenda identifies the project as Honeyoey Solar, which is being developed by ibV Energy Partners LLC.
County Administrator Timothy Dolehanty outlined the issue during Tuesday’s regular board meeting, saying ibV met with county and township representatives July 22.
That meeting started a 30-day period in which Board Chairman Dave Owens must notify the developer whether the county has what state law calls a “compatible renewable energy ordinance.”
Under Public Act 233 of 2023, a compatible ordinance may regulate large renewable-energy developments, but its requirements cannot be more restrictive than standards established by the state.
Dolehanty said the developer identified six places where Gratiot County’s zoning ordinance is more restrictive.
“Frankly, the answer to the question is pretty simple,” he said. “No, we are not compatible.”
Commissioners scheduled the special meeting rather than waiting until their Aug. 18 regular meeting, saying the subject deserved a separate public discussion.
The Aug. 11 meeting will not determine whether the solar development is approved. Its stated purpose is limited to reviewing the county’s process and considering the compatibility letter.
Dolehanty said a finding that the county lacks a compatible ordinance would not automatically remove the county or townships from the review. It could, however, allow the developer to seek approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission rather than relying entirely on the local zoning process.
ibV has expressed interest in working with the county and townships, Dolehanty said. Local review could include public hearings and an evaluation of how the development compares with the county master plan.
The county zoning ordinance establishes requirements for matters such as setbacks and screening. The county master plan also addresses the protection of agricultural land, which Dolehanty said could become a significant part of the review.
If ibV chooses to proceed through the state, the county could participate as an intervening party and place its concerns on the record. Those could include setbacks, farmland preservation and other provisions of the county’s planning documents.
The state commission would not necessarily be required to accept the county’s recommendations.
Dolehanty said the law provides up to $75,000 to help affected local governments participate in a state proceeding. The money could pay for legal assistance and the preparation of the county’s case without placing the full cost on its general fund.
A separate public meeting led by ibV may also be required as early as September. Dolehanty said that meeting would give the company an opportunity to present its proposal, including where the solar panels would be located.
