County-by-county record of moratoriums, bans, project rejections, and other restrictions on utility-scale clean energy in Michigan — 18 tracked actions, each linked to the source that reported it. See our Michigan clean energy guide for market context, and the methodology for how entries are sourced and labeled.
As of October 2026, CleanPowerDaily tracks 18 restrictive actions against utility-scale clean energy in Michigan, spanning 6 counties plus statewide policy: 4 moratoriums, bans, or restrictions, 3 project rejections, and 11 other actions such as withdrawals or litigation.
| County | Actions | Technology | Most recent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee County | 1 | Data Center | |
| Hillsdale County | 4 | Solar | |
| Huron County | 1 | Wind & Solar | |
| Montcalm County | 1 | Wind | |
| Ottawa County | 4 | Solar, Wind & Solar | |
| Wexford County | 2 | Solar | |
| Statewide | 5 | Wind & Solar, Solar |
Free to cite with attribution to CleanPowerDaily and a link to this page. Full methodology and the machine-readable dataset are on the national tracker.
Zeeland Township approved a new year-long moratorium on data centers and energy facilities, replacing a previously repealed moratorium. The move is aimed at protecting local planning processes amid development pressure.
Rural Michigan community residents successfully opposed a proposed 1.4-gigawatt Consumers Energy power plant, leading the utility to abandon the project.
Some 79 Michigan townships and counties are asking the state Supreme Court to intervene in their legal challenge to state permitting rules that override local control over wind, solar, and battery storage projects.
Allendale Township
MLive reported Allendale Township is weighing a one-year moratorium covering data centers, battery storage, large-scale solar farms, and wind farms before any proposals have been submitted, with a board of trustees vote set for its June 8 meeting.
Richland Township
ARC West Michigan reported Consumers Energy's proposed solar park in Richland Township faced divisive public hearings centered on agricultural land conversion, with the hearing process continuing.
Flint
The Genesee County View reported the City of Flint enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development to review its zoning regulations, prompting neighboring Genesee County communities to weigh similar steps.
A solar developer is suing after a Michigan township rejected its proposal for a 1,000-acre solar project near Jonesville, asking a judge to reverse the township's decision.
Fayette Township
The Center Square reported a southwest Michigan township denied the expansion of a utility-scale solar project following months of sustained public opposition.
Fayette Township
MLive reported the Fayette Township Planning Commission unanimously denied Ranger Power's roughly 1,400-acre Heartwood Solar II expansion after months of contentious public meetings, per corroborating coverage from WILX and The Hillsdalian.
Fayette Township
The Hillsdale Daily News reported Fayette Township planning commissioners postponed a decision on Ranger Power's Heartwood Solar II project for a second time, with the chair opening the May 7 session by urging respect after a complaint that someone felt physically threatened at a prior hearing.
The Huron County Planning Commission is considering a recommendation to extend an existing moratorium on special use permits for solar and battery storage projects.
OK Energy Today reported that Apex Clean Energy is abandoning its proposed 50,000-acre Montcalm Wind Project in central Michigan after nearly six years, citing insufficient landowner participation amid sustained community opposition.
State Sen. Jim Runestad and legislative colleagues sent a letter to the Michigan Public Service Commission requesting a halt to solar development in Ottawa County. The effort represents organized legislative opposition to solar projects in the area.
Zeeland Township has filed a lawsuit against the proposed Silver Maple Solar project, a 1,900-acre solar farm. Residents have been vocally opposed to the project.
Allendale Township
MLive reported that Allendale Township's board in Ottawa County unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers, solar and wind farms, and battery storage facilities on June 8, before any data center proposals had been received.
Zeeland Township
Fox 17 reported neighbors in Zeeland and Jamestown townships took formal steps to become participants in the state review of a proposed Ottawa County solar farm, a move giving them legal standing to challenge it, with Zeeland Township joining the opposition.
The Wexford Joint Planning Commission unanimously recommended denying a zoning amendment that would have allowed solar farms, following strong public opposition.
The Cadillac News reported the Wexford Joint Planning Commission opened a formal zoning review for a proposed solar project amid strong community opposition and scheduled a public hearing for additional input.
Spot an error or a missing action? Send a correction. Entries labeled Reported reflect press coverage and have not yet been editor-verified against the underlying record.