PROJECT OVERVIEW: SYLVAN SOLAR

The Sylvan Solar Project is a proposed 220-megawatt (MW) industrial-scale solar energy facility spanning approximately 2,200 acres of land in southern Newaygo County. Developed by Sylvan Solar, LLC (a subsidiary of the AES Corporation which is currently being acquired by a BlackRock-led consortium), the project has met significant local opposition due to its scale and the proposed conversion of high-quality agricultural land into an industrial zone. 

PROJECT HISTORY

MAY – JUNE 2025: THE ROLLOUT

• Project Introduction: AES Corporation/BlackRock (via Sylvan Solar, LLC) introduces plans for a 220-megawatt solar facility.  Although, some of the residents discovered the project at this time, it had been secretly in the works for a minimum of two years prior.  The proposal covers approximately 2,200 acres of land across Garfield and Sheridan Charter Townships.

• Local Presence: AES/BlackRock opens a project office in Newaygo and hires one local representative to give the appearance of being a good neighbor.  

AUGUST 19, 2025: GARFIELD FILING

• Application Submitted: AES/BlackRock formally submits a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) application to Garfield Township.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2025: SHERIDAN FILING

• Application Submitted: AES/BlackRock submits a Special Land Use Permit application to the Fremont Community Joint Planning Commission (the body that handles zoning for Sheridan Charter Township).

OCTOBER 2025: SHERIDAN APPROVAL

• Permit Granted: The Fremont Community Joint Planning Commission approves the permit for the Sheridan portion of the project.

NOVEMBER 23, 2025: GARFIELD PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING POSTPONED 

• Due to overwhelming attendance from local residents, the scheduled Public Hearing was cancelled and postponed in Garfield Township.  The township hall was unable to safely accommodate the hundreds of neighbors who showed up to voice their concerns. This event proved the massive scale of community opposition to the Sylvan Solar project. 

JANUARY 29,2026: GARFIELD PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING AND DENIAL 

• Community Opposition: A massive public hearing is held at Newaygo High School. Hundreds of residents attend to voice concerns over drainage, property values, and the permanent loss of agricultural land.  The Planning Commission voted to recommend denial of the project.

FEBRUARY 10, 2026: GARFIELD DENIAL

• Permit Denied:  Following the recommendation of the Planning Commission and overwhelming public testimony, the Garfield Township Board officially votes NO, denying the AES/BlackRock permit.

MARCH 12, 2026:  AES/BLACKROCK APPEAL 

• Local Appeal: AES/BlackRock appeals  the Garfield Township Board's denial to the Garfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals. 

APRIL 28, 2026:  DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY 

• The developer submitted a Pre-Application Request (Form 301/303) to EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy)  asking EGLE to identify protected wetland or inland streams.  Numerous major adjustments are required by EGLE and MISO.  

MAY 7 & 19-20, 2026 : THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND OPEN HOUSES

• May 7, 2026, The Garfield Zoning Board of Appeals tables their decision after another full house of resident objection and testimony.  

• Public Meetings:  AES/BlackRock has given a notice of intent to both townships to file with the MPSC to override our local zoning through PA 233.   Open houses (mandatory meeting required by PA233) concluded on May 19th, 2026 for Garfield Township and May 20th, 2026 for Sheridan Charter Township. 

JULY 6, 2026: FOIA AND MISO RECORDS — CUP WAS INCOMPLETE

After FOIA and public MISO filings, the CUP package given to Garfield was missing pieces.

• EGLE pre-application HQM-Z2K7-74HMZ: Parts 301 and 303 permits required “as proposed.” Floodplains marked Unsure. Culverts for access roads may not fly; EGLE flagged clear-span bridges. Road and disturbance limits were still changing in May–June 2026, after the Planning Commission and Board had already reviewed the file.

• MISO GIA J2001 / SA 4722: a utility-owned 345 kV switching station plus more high-voltage structures. That hardware was not laid out or studied in the local application.

Section 18.4 puts the burden on the applicant for a complete, stable plan. These records show it was not. Documents are in Public Records.

JULY 8 & 22, 2026: THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS AND ANOTHER OPEN HOUSE

• July 8th, 2026, The Garfield Zoning Board of Appeals defies the general standards of the ordinance and overturns the Garfield Township Board's decision despite clear evidence from residents regarding missing studies of mandatory project changes from EGLE and MISO.  

• July 22, 2026, another open house put on by AES/BlackRock.  These open houses consist of a few poster boards strategically placed around a room with representatives ready to give their 'sales pitches'.  

JULY 31, 2026:  RESIDENTS FILE CIRCUIT COURT APPEAL 

• Residents have filed a Circuit Court appeal challenging the ZBA’s decision to overturn the Township Board’s denial of the Sylvan Solar project. The developer has not yet filed with the Michigan Public Service Commission under PA 233, although that threat remains. You can read more about PA 233 below the timeline.  

AUGUST 11-12, 2026: DEVELOPER MOVES TO INTERVENE;  TOWNSHIP SUPPORTS IT 

• Sylvan Solar (AES/BlackRock) filed a motion to intervene in the residents’ Circuit Court appeal. On August 11, 2026, Garfield Township’s attorney filed a response supporting the developer’s request to join the case. Instead of remaining neutral or defending the Township Board’s original denial, the Township chose to back the solar company.

• The hearing on the motion to intervene is scheduled for September 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Newaygo County Courthouse in White Cloud (previously November 2, 2026).

• EGLE floodplain issue:  The developer’s consultant, Tetra Tech, filed a Floodplain Elevation Calculation Request with EGLE for the project site near 80th Street and Croswell Avenue after EGLE raised concerns about potential floodplain impacts.

AUGUST 20–21, 2026: EGLE FLOOD DISCHARGE NUMBERS

• EGLE issued official peak-flow estimates for two creeks on the project. Minnie Creek at 88th Street (Garfield): 100-year flood 420 cfs. Butler Creek downstream of Warner Avenue (Sheridan): 100-year flood 1,600 cfs. These are design numbers for floodplain review, not a permit to build. The estimates expire in one year. Next document to watch is Sylvan’s no-rise / elevation response that uses these flows.

AUGUST 27, 2026:  ZBA SCREENING MEETING FOR SOLAR PROJECT 

• The Garfield Township Zoning Board of Appeals met at Newaygo High School to take up enhanced screening, one of the conditions it left open when it overturned the Township Board’s denial on July 8.

• Little was decided. The ZBA did not approve a final screening plan. They pointed toward a working group: the zoning administrator (Supervisor George Suchy), Frits Carlson from the ZBA, someone from Sylvan, and undecided resident(s).  They mentioned another ZBA meeting to finalize screening for October, a date has not been made public.  Public comment was allowed and attendance was light compared to previous meetings.  

• The ZBA is still treating this permit as theirs to run while the Circuit Court appeal is pending. That is the same issue raised in Porter et al. v. Township of Garfield (Case No. 26-22107-AA).

SEPTEMBER 14, 2026: CIRCUIT COURT — MOTION TO INTERVENE

• As expected, the developer requested to join the appeal and was granted via Honorable Robert D. Springstead in Newaygo County Circuit Court. 

DECEMBER 07, 20256 : CIRCUIT COURT - MOTION TO VACATE AND SUMMARY OF DISPOSITION

• Hearing scheduled for the Motion to Vacate by the Appellants as well as Summary of Dispostion from Devleoper.

• Public welcome and encouraged to attend:  1092 E. Newell St., White Cloud, MI 49349 at 10:30 a.m. 

• More information coming soon.