Officials gather to celebrate solar project

OCP photo by Allison Scarbrough/Vice President of Development for NorthStar Clean Energy Peter Lundquist addresses the audience.

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

HART TOWNSHIP — NorthStar Clean Energy hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the 120-megawatt Hart Solar Project, at 1642 W. Polk Rd., Thursday, Oct. 8. 

“Hart Solar will deliver clean, renewable energy to Michigan communities through long-term agreements with Executive Energy Services and Michigan Public Power Agency,” states a press release. 

The $200 million project situated on a 1,000-acre site, and the land is leased from the property owners, said Vice President of Development for NorthStar Clean Energy Peter Lundquist. Hart Township received approximately $600,000 through Michigan’s Renewables Ready Communities Award Program, and the CMS Energy Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to Lakeshore Food Club. 

“Hart Solar will provide clean energy to a diverse group of Michigan energy customers through long-term purchase agreements with Executive Energy Services,” states the press release. President of Executive Energy Services Robert Bernardi said construction of the Hart Solar project wrapped in August. 

OCP file photo by Rob Alway

“Through Executive Energy Services, Oakland County schools and 45 other Michigan public school districts are projected to save approximately $25 million over a 10-year agreement, helping redirect funds toward students, staff and educational priorities,” states the press release.  

“This solar farm generates electricity, and it’s put into the grid through the transmission lines here,” said Senior Vice President of Executive Energy Services Tom Ihrig. “The savings that the schools get from the electricity goes back to the students as far as books, teachers, etc.”

Selecting a solar farm site must fulfill several requirements—“landowners willing to do the project; a welcoming community; solar resource and environmental conditions that allow for it; and high voltage,” said Lundquist.

OCP photo by Allison Scarbrough

“Projects like this are only possible through strong partnerships. We’re grateful to the local leaders, landowners, community members and project partners whose collaboration helped this vision come to life,” said Lundquist. “The project is expected to generate approximately 200 gigawatt hours of electricity annually—enough power to serve 21,000 homes and avoid 96,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, also supporting Michigan’s transition to a cleaner energy future. 

“In addition to producing clean energy, the benefits of the project extended into the local community with Hart Township receiving $600,000 from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s Renewable Ready Award Program. This supports improvements in the community and benefits residents for years to come. The CMS Energy Foundation also granted $100,000 to the Lakeshore Food Club, the local food bank, to help strengthen the community’s wellbeing and access to essential resources. Hart Solar happened through collaboration and commitment from hundreds of people in Michigan from several organizations, including customers to buy the renewable energy; land owners to allow the project to use the land; communities to host the project; agencies to permit the construction; and the partners to permit, engineer, build, manage and facilitate completion and operation of the project. Throughout the development and construction, Hart Solar created jobs; brought investments into the region through partnerships and contractors, suppliers and skilled workers, many of whom are local to the area.” 

OCP photo by Allison Scarbrough

Lundquist thanked the many landowners who leased their property; local government officials, community leaders, organizations, the energy buyers, and others who supported the project. 

Chief Executive Officer for Michigan Public Power Agency Patrick Bowland said the contract for the Hart Solar Project was signed in 2021.

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