This will greatly affect the value of our property. Solar farms will impact the ability to attract new population into our aging community, to which has seen a decrease in the latest census. The following are a few of our concerns, however are not limited to only the concerns listed:
Habitat Destruction: The removal of farm crops, grasses, and trees will reduce the availability of food for the wi
ldlife that thrive in our township. The fences put around solar farms will reduce the amount of land wildlife can roam and forge in. This will cause an over-population of wildlife in areas remaining untouched by solar panels and limit the resources to maintain healthy wildlife. Land Use: The removal of hundreds of acres of prime farmland from agricultural use which is in direct conflict with the Michigan Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act otherwise known as PA116. Human Health Risks – The batteries used to store the electricity created by solar panels contain lithium, iron, and phosphate. According to OSHA, a report in 2018 contained over 25,000 overheating or fire incidents involving more than 400 types of lithium battery-powered consumer products over a five-year period. This technology is too new to safely maintain a battery storage power station. A good example of the dangers of Lithium Batteries can be seen at Superior Battery in Morris, Illinois on June 29, 2021 when 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to a fire at the facility that contained approximately 180,000 pounds of Lithium Batteries. Another example of this unstable energy resource is Vistra Energy’s Facility in Moss Landing, California in September 4, 2021 and again in February 13, 2022. Our fire department would have to be trained and properly equipped to contain any such fires should one occur. That expense should not be placed on the tax payers or the fire department. According to reports, between 2017 and 2019, 23 energy storage fires in South Korea have been linked to flaws in the batteries. It would be negligent on the state’s part to place the residents of at risk by allowing any battery storage power stations to be built knowing the risk. Water Drainage: There are concerns of potentially toxic chemicals leaking into the land and water table near battery storage power stations. There are concerns of improper drainage on solar farms and the lack of vegetation to efficiently and naturally use rainwater. If left unchecked the land could turn into swamps or bogs. This could also cause flooding on near by properties of solar farms. Panel Removal: There are concerns related to the upkeep of the solar panels during the life of the project and who would be responsible should neighboring properties be damaged by solar panels. There are also concerns related to the proper disposal of solar panels and returning the land to its previous natural, thriving condition at the end of the project.
