New solar garden from Consumers Energy coming to Jackson County

JACKSON, MI – A town in Jackson County will soon be home to a “solar garden” that will provide renewable, clean energy to the area.

Jackson-based Consumers Energy plans to break ground on Blackman Solar, a new 30-acre community solar panel array in Blackman Township, in spring 2025. The future site, located at the corner of Blackman and County Farm roads, will be part of Consumers Energy’s Solar Gardens program, officials said.

“Blackman Solar is a great example of partnering with a community to develop a project that provides reliable, clean energy and local tax and economic benefits,” said David Hicks, Vice President of Renewable Energy Development at Consumers Energy.

Solar Gardens is a community solar program that allows utility customers to support the development and production of solar energy without owning their own facilities. Consumer Energy’s website.

The Blackman Township Board of Trustees approved a conditional use permit from Consumers Energy for the solar project by a 6-1 vote on Wednesday, Sept. 18, Blackman Township Supervisor Pete Jancek said. The council approved the permit because it complied with the township’s zoning plan for the land, he added.

Jancek said he doesn’t like redevelopment of farmland, but he believes Consumers Energy will take a good look at it, too. He added that the energy provider will add vegetation and fencing around the project so it’s barely visible from the road.

Trustee Scott Pack voted no on the conditional use permit, Jancek said.

“I feel much more comfortable with consumers being involved in these types of projects,” Jancek said.

Officials said it will begin generating electricity in December 2025. Blackman Solar will include about 5,000 solar panels and generate up to 2.5 megawatts of renewable electricity for 2,500 future Solar Gardens customers.

“We are grateful for the positive response we have received from Blackman Township leaders and are excited to continue advancing these types of solar projects on our path to a carbon-neutral electric grid,” Hicks said.

The new community solar facility will be the fourth owned and operated by Consumers Energy, joining other Solar Gardens projects at Cadillac, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University, officials said.

The energy provider is also shutting down its last three coal-burning units next summer. The company is developing solar projects Clean Energy Plan Officials said they aim to be carbon neutral by 2040.

Relating to: Consumers Energy lets you see inside the last coal-fired power station before it closes

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million people, officials said. More information can be found at: Consumers Energy’s website.

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