NTH Can Help Get Solar Projects Off the Ground
There is good news coming out of Governor Whitmer’s office this week (see news release here), as her Office, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), announced a decision to allow commercial solar development on Michigan farmland enrolled in PA 116. This opens up an additional 3.4 million acres in Michigan for solar development.
We've seen even more related good news from the Michigan Public Service Commission (see news release here) who has indicated that it has approved Consumers Energy’s integrated resource plan, with key features that include:
NTH is in a prime position to help developers and utilities with their solar projects as we have the local knowledge and expertise through our Detroit, Northville, Lansing, and Grand Rapids offices. Early on in a new development, NTH can assist with the planning; including ecological studies, wetland delineations, Phase I & II site investigations, site civil engineering, and geotechnical engineering. Then as projects move forward, NTH can assist with permitting and regulatory requirements, as well as construction services and material testing. And as the project comes online, NTH can execute post construction surveys, mitigation, and habitat restoration that may be required.
Learn how NTH can support you through the development of your solar projects by contacting Rob Bates, Senior Project Scientist at 248.662.2038 or rbates@nthconsultants.com. You can learn more about our services here as well.
We've seen even more related good news from the Michigan Public Service Commission (see news release here) who has indicated that it has approved Consumers Energy’s integrated resource plan, with key features that include:
- Conducting annual competitive bidding administered by an independent third party for adding power generation capacity, including 1,200 MW of new solar energy from 2019-21. Consumers can own up to half of all the future additional capacity that it procures through competitive bidding and it must buy the remaining electricity through power purchase agreements with third parties, excluding Consumers affiliates.
- Modified the avoided cost rates and terms set in Case No. U-18090 for small, alternative power producers under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. These changes include a five-year planning horizon (instead of 10 years) when determining whether the company needs additional capacity; updated avoided cost rates for energy from the independent producers based on wholesale power prices or forecasts; and capacity rates based on the company’s competitive bidding results.
- Approval of a financial compensation mechanism for power purchase agreements the company enters into with third-party power suppliers, including power producers under PURPA, as authorized by the 2016 energy laws to remove disincentives to arrange supplies from third parties.
NTH is in a prime position to help developers and utilities with their solar projects as we have the local knowledge and expertise through our Detroit, Northville, Lansing, and Grand Rapids offices. Early on in a new development, NTH can assist with the planning; including ecological studies, wetland delineations, Phase I & II site investigations, site civil engineering, and geotechnical engineering. Then as projects move forward, NTH can assist with permitting and regulatory requirements, as well as construction services and material testing. And as the project comes online, NTH can execute post construction surveys, mitigation, and habitat restoration that may be required.
Learn how NTH can support you through the development of your solar projects by contacting Rob Bates, Senior Project Scientist at 248.662.2038 or rbates@nthconsultants.com. You can learn more about our services here as well.
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