MONTAGUE — A large crowd reminiscent of winter 2023 gathered at Tuesday's White River Township board meeting after many local residents received a letter from the company formerly known as National Grid Renewables outlining its proposed solar energy facility.
The company, which recently rebranded as Geronimo Power, sent letters to township residents in June who it believes could be affected by the proposed facility. The letters state that the project is approximately 1,575 acres. Township supervisor Ron Bailey said after a meeting with Geronimo developers earlier this year - a prescribed step for the company under Public Act 233 - that the project was similar to the original one the company proposed in late 2022. That proposal ignited a local backlash against the company. Former township supervisor Mike Cockerill was also recalled due to residents' displeasure with his land being part of the proposed solar project. The saga briefly led to legal action against the township when its board did not act on a permit request; the suit was later dropped.
During public comment, two Geronimo representatives - copywriter Ricki Oldenkamp and project manager Kendra Harrington - spoke to inform the public about the company's name change and the upcoming open house-style event July 17 at NBC Middle School. The latter is another step the company is required to take under PA233, which gives the state control over siting of renewable energy facilities.
Multiple residents spoke in frustration about the Geronimo project, stating the renewable energy district the township created and placed on Chemours land last fall qualified as a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) under PA233 and that the size of Geronimo's proposed facility is inappropriate for the township. White River Township is, at 15.9 square miles, less than half the size of a typical township.
"We support renewables and worked really hard and spent a lot of time and money working with Chemours to integrate a plan, a size, for solar that integrates into our community and doesn't dominate our community," resident Mary Jo Ernst said during public comment, adding that PA233 requires companies to outline why brownfields, such as the Chemours land, were not chosen for renewable energy projects.
The board also addressed more routine items, such as an amendment to its recent short-term rental ordinance. Unanimous approval was given to a new amendment - Bailey said he's hopeful it will be the last necessary amendment - that addresses short-term rentals on private roads. The new amendment requires residents using their home as a short-term rental to either improve their private roads so that they're at least 15 feet wide, have an appropriately-sized cul-de-sac and can sustain a fire truck, or have a signed agreement that the renter is aware of the inaccessibility.
The board also welcomed current planning commission chair Lauren Wackernagel as the new deputy clerk. Wackernagel replaced Patti Sargent, who stepped down from the role in May.
