Solar, Wind & Battery Opposition: Alabama Zoning Vote, MI Supreme Court, MA Approvals — July 3, 2026

A Zoning Vote, a Supreme Court Petition, and State Overrides

In Stockton, Alabama, residents voted 215 to 161 this week to adopt zoning regulations for their unincorporated community — a move explicitly aimed at blocking a 2,000-acre solar farm — only to learn that county officials say the project is exempt and will proceed anyway. The vote was one of several flashpoints across at least six states where communities clashed with energy developers and state regulators over the siting of solar, wind, and battery storage projects during the week of June 26 through July 3, 2026.

From a 79-township legal challenge heading to the Michigan Supreme Court to Massachusetts regulators approving two battery storage facilities over fierce local objections, the week underscored a recurring tension at the heart of America's energy transition: who gets to decide where large-scale energy infrastructure goes?

Solar Siting Battles

The most closely watched solar fight this week played out in Baldwin County, Alabama, where the small community of Stockton held a special election on zoning regulations driven almost entirely by opposition to a $350 million Silicon Ranch solar project. The Nashville-based developer's proposal would cover roughly 2,000 acres and supply power to a Meta data center in Montgomery. Of 376 ballots cast, 57.1% supported adopting zoning — a measure that triggers a 180-day moratorium on new development within the planning district, according to AL.com.

But the vote may prove symbolic. Baldwin County officials confirmed last week that the Silicon Ranch development is exempt from the new zoning rules under a county exemption, meaning the project will move forward regardless of the moratorium, as reported by FOX 10. The outcome could set the stage for a legal clash between the community group Friends of the Tensaw River and county government over the project's future, Lagniappe Mobile reported.

In the Town of Trenton, Wisconsin, a separate solar proposal hit a speed bump when community members near the project voiced opposition and requested changes at a commission meeting. The commission opted to pause the project while gathering additional information, according to the Washington County Daily News. Details about the developer and project capacity were not immediately available.

In Jarrettsville, Maryland, Harford County residents packed an information meeting to push back against a proposed community solar farm. Neighbors expressed concerns directly to the developers, though the project remains in early stages, CBS News Baltimore reported.

Local Control vs. State Authority

Perhaps the week's most consequential development came from Michigan, where 79 townships and counties formally asked the state Supreme Court to hear their legal challenge to state permitting rules for large-scale renewable energy projects. The rules, enacted under Public Act 233, allow developers of wind, solar, and battery storage facilities to bypass local zoning and seek approval directly from the Michigan Public Service Commission, according to MLive.

The petition follows a May 2026 Court of Appeals ruling that upheld key provisions of the state permitting framework. Local governments argue the rules strip them of meaningful authority over projects that cover hundreds of acres of farmland in their communities. The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will take the case.

A similar dynamic played out in Nebraska, where communities across the state are broadly opposing large-scale wind and solar installations while simultaneously welcoming nuclear energy development. A report from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists found that misinformation about renewable energy projects has contributed to the opposition, though it also documented genuine community concerns about land use and property values driving the resistance.

Wind Energy Pushback

In Marathon County, Wisconsin, residents turned out in force to oppose the proposed Hub City Wind Farm, a 38-turbine project. Community members called for a moratorium on wind development, but county officials said they lack the legal authority to impose one, according to the Wausau Pilot & Review. The project's developer and total megawatt capacity were not specified in the report, though opponents raised concerns about noise, property values, and the scale of the turbine installations.

Battery Storage Concerns

Massachusetts emerged as a key battleground for battery energy storage this week after the state's Energy Facilities Siting Board voted Tuesday to approve two contested projects — one in Tewksbury and one in Oakham — over months of local opposition, as reported by the Boston Business Journal.

The Tewksbury project, called the Hillman Energy Center, is a 125-megawatt battery energy storage system planned for 73-75 Hillman Street, near the Andover town line. Residents from both Tewksbury and neighboring Andover had objected for months, raising concerns about safety and the facility's proximity to homes. Andover officials also voiced reservations about the project, according to Andover MA News. The state board's approval effectively overrode local concerns, a point that drew immediate criticism from neighbors who said the project does not belong near residential areas, Boston 25 News reported.

Meanwhile, in Croton, New York, a proposed large battery energy storage system is in its earliest stages but already drawing scrutiny. At a Board of Trustees work session, the village's sustainability coordinator requested and received $2,000 to hire a consultant to evaluate potential sites for a BESS facility. Two trustees expressed reservations about the idea, according to The Croton Chronicle. The project has no developer or capacity attached yet, but the community response signals that battery storage siting has become as politically sensitive as wind and solar in many neighborhoods.

What to Watch

Baldwin County, Alabama: A committee of Stockton residents will begin drafting zoning regulations during the 180-day moratorium period. A legal confrontation between the Friends of the Tensaw River and county officials over whether the Silicon Ranch solar project is truly exempt could come to a head in the weeks ahead. (AL.com)
Michigan Supreme Court: The court must decide whether to accept the petition from 79 local governments challenging the state's renewable energy permitting framework under Public Act 233. A decision to hear the case could have far-reaching implications for wind, solar, and battery projects statewide. (MLive)
Marathon County, Wisconsin: With county officials saying they cannot impose a moratorium on wind development, the fate of the 38-turbine Hub City Wind Farm will likely hinge on the permitting process and any conditions the county can attach. Future public hearings are expected. (Wausau Pilot & Review)

Trends and Patterns

This week's stories highlight an intensifying tension between state-level energy policy and local land-use authority that now spans solar, wind, and battery storage projects alike. In Michigan, Massachusetts, and Alabama, communities attempted to use zoning, moratoriums, and legal challenges to block or slow projects — and in each case, state or county-level authority either overrode or threatened to override local action. The Massachusetts siting board's approval of two battery storage projects in a single session, and Baldwin County's declaration that a solar farm is exempt from a freshly passed zoning referendum, suggest that developers and state regulators are increasingly willing to push projects through over local objections. At the same time, the scale of organized opposition — 79 townships petitioning a state supreme court, hundreds turning out for special elections in small communities — indicates that the political costs of overriding local concerns are growing, not shrinking.