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Residents File Circuit Court Appeal
Circuit Court appeal is active. Next Hearing: December 07, 2026 at 10:30a.m.
A group of residents formally filed a Claim of Appeal in Newaygo County Circuit Court challenging the Garfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals’ July 8 decision that overturned the Township Board’s denial of the Sylvan Solar Conditional Use Permit. (Porter et al. v. Township of Garfield Case No.: 26-22107-AA)
What the appeal challenges:
The residents argue that the Garfield Zoning Board of Appeals lacked proper authority under the Township’s ordinance and failed to apply clear standards when it reversed the elected Township Board and ordered the permit issued.
This appeal is being pursued by local residents who live near the proposed project and care deeply about protecting Garfield (and Sheridan Charter) Township’s agricultural character, rural way of life, and the integrity of our Master Plan.
Update:
AES/BlackRock (Sylvan Solar) filed a motion to intervene. As expected, the judge ruled in their favor, not uncommon. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 07, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at the Newaygo County Courthouse, 1092 E. Newell Street, White Cloud for Motion to Vacate on behalf of the appellants and Summary of Dispostion from the devloper. Updates will be posted closer to the next hearing date.
Stop Sylvan Solar was formed to preserve the heritage and landscape of Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships. Our mission is to protect our productive farmlands, local wildlife habitats, and the unique rural character from industrial-scale development. We believe in responsible land use that respects our Master Plans and secures a sustainable, agricultural future for the next generation of Michigan farmers.
Stop Sylvan Solar was formed to preserve the heritage and landscape of Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships. Our mission is to protect our productive farmlands, local wildlife habitats, and the unique rural character from industrial-scale development. We believe in responsible land use that respects our Master Plans and secures a sustainable, agricultural future for the next generation of Michigan farmers.
Garfield Township MI - Citizens Say NO to Sylvan Solar
Project Intro and Status:
Project Intro and Status:
The Sylvan Solar project is an industrial-scale development proposed by the AES Corporation (currently being acquired by a BlackRock-led consortium) for south-central Newaygo County. The plan involves installing roughly 1,200+ acres of solar arrays across both Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships, taking a total of 2,150+ acres of prime agriculturally zoned land out of food production.
Sheridan Charter Township: The Fremont Community Joint Planning Commission approved the Special Land Use Permit for the Sheridan portion of the project in October 2025.
Garfield Township: Following strong public opposition and a clear commitment to our local Master Plan and General Ordinance, the Garfield Township Planning Commission and Board voted NO on the Conditional Use Permit in January/February 2026. The developer appealed to the Garfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals. Four unelected officials (one being a non-resident) totally disregarded the General Standards of the ordinance and overturned the Board's decision in July 2026. The residents have appealed the Garfield Township ZBA decision in Newaygo County Circuit Court. Sylvan Solar has also given Garfield Township and Sheridan Charter Township Notice of Intent to file with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) if they do not get the permit locally in Garfield township.
Our Goal: Protecting Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships from Industrialization and preserving local control
Our Goal: Protecting Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships from Industrialization and preserving local control
While the residents are currently in the early stages of the appeal process in Newaygo County Circuit Court, the developer continues to threaten using Public Act 233 (PA 233) to override Garfield Township and it's residents. Under Michigan’s Public Act 233, developers have a pathway to bypass local democracy. The entire project will go to the state to override local control.
Our goal is to ensure that "Local Control" is more than just a phrase. We are working to:
Preserve Our Heritage: We believe that utility-scale energy projects do not belong on productive agricultural land, and we are committed to protecting the rural character of Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships for future generations.
Protect Non-Participating Landowners: We are dedicated to defending the rights of neighbors who have not signed leases with the developer. This includes fighting to prevent:
Loss of Property Value: Ensuring that the homes we’ve invested in aren't devalued by proximity to industrial equipment.
Noise Pollution: Addressing the constant hum of inverters and the noise of construction and maintenance.
Glare and Visual Blight: Protecting our views and safety from the "glint and glare" of hundreds of thousands of panels.
Environmental Impact: Monitoring potential soil contamination and runoff issues that could affect neighboring wells and wildlife.
Safety & Infrastructure: Ensuring our local roads aren't destroyed by heavy machinery and that our first responders are equipped for specialized industrial fires.
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