The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced the seventh round of Renewables Ready Communities Awards (RRCA) to support nine communities hosting solar power and battery storage projects that will provide Michigan households and businesses with clean energy.
“These awards demonstrate EGLE’s commitment to partnering with communities to build Michigan’s clean energy future,” said EGLE director Phil Roos. “Through the Renewables Ready Communities program, local governments are gaining the resources they need to reinvest in public safety, essential services, and projects that strengthen their communities.”
The RRCA program offers flexible funding to local governments for community improvements and infrastructure projects and services like road and bridge repairs, public safety, park enhancements and building upgrades. This program incentivizes communities to host large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind, solar and battery storage by providing awards that supplement the project’s tax revenue and community benefits.
The newest awards
The current round of awards totals $3.87 million and supports nine local units of government. Half of each award is disbursed upon the start of energy project construction, and the other half upon the start of operation. Here are the awardees and the related renewable energy projects:
- $375,000 to Coldwater Township in Branch County for hosting Cold Creek Energy Center, a 75 megawatt (MW) battery storage project with an expected construction date of September 2026 and an operation date of March 2027.
- $183,500 to Delta County for hosting Renegade Solar, a 73.4 MW solar project under construction with an expected operation date of June 2026.
- $500,000 to Fairgrove Township in Tuscola County (awaiting State Administrative Board approval) for hosting Tuscola II Energy Storage, a 100 MW battery storage project with an expected construction date of April 2027 and an operation date of May 2028.
- $275,000 to Grant Township in Cheboygan County for hosting Northern Waters Solar, a 110 MW solar project with an expected construction date of June 2027 and operation date of December 2028.
- $425,000 to Lawrence Township in Van Buren County for hosting Murch Solar, an 85 MW solar project under construction with an expected operation date of February 2027.
- $120,035 to Mason Township in Arenac County for hosting Au Gres Solar, a 55 MW solar project with an expected construction date of July 2026 and operation date of September 2028.
- $750,000 to Midland Township in Midland County (waiting for State Administrative Board approval) for hosting Salzburg Battery Storage, a 150 MW battery storage project with an expected construction date of June 2027 and an operation date of December 2028.
- $740,000 to Newberg Township in Cass County (waiting for State Administrative Board approval) for hosting Three Lakes Solar, a 148 MW solar project with an expected construction date of April 2027 and an operation date of December 2028.
- $500,000 to Saline Township in Washtenaw County (waiting for State Administrative Board approval) for hosting Voyager Storage, a 100 MW battery storage project under construction with an expected operation date of January 2027.
Published April 2026
