A vote that could reshape Plainwell's landscape
Plans for a battery energy storage system in Plainwell are moving forward, and the Gun Plain Township Planning Commission is set to vote on site plans May 20. The project, proposed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), would be located off Riverview Drive in Plainwell.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) store electricity much like a phone battery stores power, then release it when demand peaks. CIP says the facility would help stabilize the regional electrical grid.
Why Plainwell?
Gun Plain Township Supervisor Mike Vandenberg told News Channel 3 that the area was targeted because the local grid needs reinforcement.
"We are in one of the communities where the electrical grid needs to be stabilized, and that's one of the reasons why this whole area is being targeted. It helps stabilize the electrical grid, so when the power goes down we have power here."
Vandenberg also addressed a common misconception in the community. Many residents believe a battery storage facility means a data center is coming too, he said. That is not the case, according to Vandenberg.
Residents raise safety concerns
Despite the distinction, opposition to the project has grown. Residents have voiced frustrations at township meetings. Some have placed protest signs in their yards.
Bill Knopf, who lives off Riverview Drive near the proposed site, cited fire safety as his primary concern.
"I'm really opposed to it. There are lithium batteries, and I'm aware of the fact that lithium's have fire potential."
The facility would be required to meet national fire and electrical safety codes. CIP would also have to ensure the installation stays at least 100 feet from property lines, according to Vandenberg.
Local control under pressure
Vandenberg acknowledged the township's limited authority over the project. If the planning commission denies the site plans, CIP can appeal directly to the state for approval.
"That's just one more thing that we have to deal with at the local level, we're losing more and more power to the state."
This dynamic is playing out across Michigan. Under Public Act 233, local governments cannot outright ban renewable energy projects. Communities that cannot reach an agreement with developers may end up with a state-imposed compatible renewable energy ordinance, or CREO, which offers fewer protections.
A broader regional fight
The Plainwell project is part of a larger wave of battery storage proposals across Allegan County and the Kalamazoo area. Neighboring Oshtemo Township passed a moratorium on battery storage facilities after developer NewEdge Power proposed a 260-megawatt facility in 2024. The controversy there has been so intense that residents launched a recall effort targeting five township board members.
In Coldwater Township, the state's first utility-scale battery storage facility is already operational. The 100-megawatt Tibbits Energy Storage installation consists of 80 rectangular battery units spread across the property, each equipped with its own alarm and fire suppression systems.
Coldwater Township Supervisor Don Rogers urged other communities to work with developers rather than block them.
"Work with them. Have a dialogue. Don't push them away. Don't put up a roadblock until you talk to them and find out."
Next steps
The Gun Plain Charter Township, MI Citizen's Coalition, a group organized to oppose the BESS project, has scheduled a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Gun Plain Township Hall. The Planning Commission's vote on the site plans is expected May 20.
Whether the commission approves or denies the plans, the final decision may rest with state regulators. For Plainwell residents, the outcome will determine whether their neighborhood becomes home to one of Michigan's growing network of utility-scale battery facilities.