SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / MI / Monroe

Monroe County, MI — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

42.4
Risk Grade
Good
SE Michigan; PJM/AEP; LaSalle Township historically restrictive; PA 233 invalidated overrestrictions; developing CREO
Assessment Snapshot
Population
152,021
State Rank
#21
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
52

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
None codified. No county-specific setbacks confirmed.
Zoning Mechanism
Monroe County/Township: CUP in applicable zoning district (sub-50 MW). ≥50 MW subject to MPSC siting unless CREO adopted.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Conservative townships tempered by PA 233; significant agricultural opportunity
Basis for Assessment
SE Michigan; PJM/AEP; LaSalle Township historically restrictive; PA 233 invalidated overrestrictions; developing CREO
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Board of Commissioners | 5-15 members | 2-yr terms | partisan elections | Wayne (Detroit), Oakland, Washtenaw (Ann Arbor), Genesee (Flint), Ingham (Lansing), Kalamazoo, Kent (Grand Rapids): D majority or D-lean. Rural/northern MI counties: R majority. MI PA 233/235 (2023) reduced county veto power over ≥50 MW solar.

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
PJM / AEP Ohio (SE Michigan corner)
Utilities
DTE Energy (Detroit Edison), Indiana Michigan Power (AEP) (western edge)
State Permitting Process
PA 233 of 2023 (HB 5120) — effective Nov 29, 2024: MPSC has siting authority for solar ≥50 MW, wind ≥100 MW, storage ≥50 MW / 200 MWh, unless affected local unit has adopted a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) meeting state setback/height minimums. If CREO in place, developer must use local process; if no CREO or CREO is more restrictive than PA 233, developer may go directly to MPSC. MPSC may overrule local denial; if it does, local unit loses CREO status for future projects. 21 minimal conditions apply to all MPSC-approved projects (fencing, acoustics, decommissioning bond, etc.). As of Mar 2026, multiple townships and counties have sued MPSC challenging PA 233 implementation. Projects <50 MW solar / <100 MW wind: local CUP/SUP process governs under township/county zoning. MISO interconnection required. Most of MI in MISO; SE corner (Lenawee, Monroe, parts of Wayne) in PJM via AEP.
State Incentives
Michigan Renewable Energy Standard (PA 295/PA 342): 15% by 2021 (met); Michigan EGLE: state agency oversees environmental permitting for solar under MI PA 233 (2023) and PA 235 (2023). MI PA 233/235 (enacted Nov 2023): new state preemption for solar ≥50 MW — county renewable energy overlay or state MPSC review. Net metering: PA 235 of 2023 raised DG cap to 10% of utility peak load; DTE Energy, Consumers Energy offer net metering programs. MI EGLE grants: Community Resilience Grant for local solar/storage. Utility: DTE Energy serves SE MI/Detroit metro; Consumers Energy serves mid-Michigan; Upper Peninsula Power (UPPCO) serves some UP areas; various electric cooperatives rural.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Strasburg Solar Park | 100 MW | Raisinville Township, Monroe County | DTE Electric Company | MPSC approved Sept 30 2025 (Case No. U-21193) | commercial operation target 2028
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials on record as of Mar 2026.

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Last verified: 2026-03-24 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes