Richland Township Hopes to Finally Conclude Public Hearing on 2,200-Acre Consumers Energy Solar Project

The hearing that could not end

The public hearing for the Liberty Farms Solar project in Richland Township has been postponed twice because residents will not stop talking.

Township Supervisor Bear Priest said the original hearing in January was moved out of the small township hall after too many people showed up. The meeting exceeded fire capacity and had to be relocated to Gull Lake Middle School.

"So many people came we were actually over fire capacity, so the meeting had to be postponed," Priest said.

The second attempt in April ran into the same problem. Residents packed the school building, and the public comment period stretched past 9:15 p.m. with the school only available until 10 p.m.

"The public comment period just kept going for over two hours. And then finally, when there was no line, it was after 9:15 or 9:30. We only have the school til 10. And so there was no time to actually open the public hearing," Priest said.

New rules for the May 27 meeting

A third attempt was scheduled for Wednesday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Gull Lake Middle School. Township officials changed the public comment rules to try to prevent another overrun.

The first public comment period was reserved for non-agenda items only. A second public comment period would follow the agenda items. The goal was to ensure all comments about the solar project happened during the official public hearing rather than the general public comment period.

"We have limited the first public comment period to only non-agenda items. They will be another public comment time after the agenda items for anything anybody wants to talk about. But the hope is we can get to the agenda item of the public hearing, because as a township we do have to try to attend to the agenda item of the applicant," Priest said.

A project that divides a community

Consumers Energy announced the Liberty Farms Solar project in February 2025. According to reporting by WWMT NewsChannel 3, the project would span 1,200 acres and deliver 220 megawatts of renewable energy, enough to power more than 50,000 homes. WMUK reported the project would cover over 2,200 acres of land.

Residents living near the proposed site have voiced strong opposition.

Richard Jamieson, who lives approximately 170 yards from where solar panels would be installed, told WWMT he opposes the project because it would convert fertile farmland into industrial infrastructure.

"There's nothing good about it at all," Jamieson said. "It's gonna kill the value of property around here. This is rich land. It's been Richland because it is. Who wants to look at that stuff anyway?"

What happens next

Priest said the planning commission's deliberation on the application could take three to four months after the public hearing concludes.

"I think a conservative estimate is probably three to four months of deliberation before the planning commission will be at a place to make a decision," Priest said.

Consumers Energy issued a statement through WWMT saying the company is "working through the permitting process with Richland Township and other partners" and remains "committed to ensuring the proposed Liberty Solar project aligns with all local and state requirements."

The township's seven planning commissioners, all of whom live and work in the community, must approve special use permits before the project can move forward. Priest said the commission needs to hear from residents on both sides of the issue.

"Those seven members who live here, work here in our community, they need to hear from our residents," Priest said.

"The township will never limit the public hearing. As long as there's people, new people that want to comment, we want to hear from the public," Priest added.