Troy City Council Stops Solar Panel System Proposal

Amid concerns of real estate devaluation and noise pollution, the Troy City Council shot down plans for DTE Energy to build a solar panel system property at Monday's meeting.

The property, just east of northbound Interstate-75 and south of Long Lake Road, is adjacent to the The Glens at Carlson Park subdivision, the residents of which guided the council's mind.

"I am not going to want to go forward on this project if the residents are opposed to this," said Mayor Dane Slater. "From what I've heard from the residents ... I don't think you're going to get their approval."

The City Council essentially reached a consensus on Monday night that the project, a 1-megawatt solar panel system to occupy five acres on a 21-acre site owned by the city, would not be approved even if it were approved by the Troy Planning Commission as required.

"There's no reason to go forward to the Planning Commission and all the work that would go on, if there is not at least a concept by the City Council, an idea, an affirmation, to consider this proposal," said City Manager Brian Kischnick.

Representatives of solar developer/contractor team GenPoint Energy and Inovateus Solar, who spoke at Monday night's meeting, have worked with Troy city officials to push the project through at that site since late last year. Per DTE, a lease agreement needs to be executed by April 17.

Slater said that in between the time that residents gave their feedback and the time of the City Council meeting, that developers weren't able to provide specific answers to their concerns.

At a City Council meeting last month, councilmembers asked residents to be included the process in order to voice their concerns. In the subsequent story on Patch, commenters went back and forth with a developer on the project, to address concerns of real estate devaluation and noise pollution.

Councilmember Maureen McGinnis pointed out that an example provided by developers of a similar project in rural White Lake Township could not be adequately compared with Troy's residential communities.

"One of the benefits is that this a marquee project for the city and would put Troy on the map for alternative energy," I don't know if it's worth it to us to do the pretty much same thing, but to put it smack-dab in the middle of a residential area." 

The plan is built around creating renewable energy resources in local communities and Troy residents would indirectly benefit from solar energy harvested at the site.

Residents living nearby are not expected to have to deal with a noise factor beyond about 10 decibels after a 3-4 month period of construction.

Per DTE, all capital costs would be paid by DTE and the city would collect an annual rent. 

Stick with Patch for more this week from the City Council meeting!

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