FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024
az@platform-communications.com
Felch Township, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy announced its first round of grants from the Renewables Ready Communities Awards (RRCA). All three communities where the Groveland Mine Solar project resides will be awarded funding:
- Norway Township, $252,500
- Felch Township, $141,000
- Sagola Township, $106,500
Read the full story on the grants from WLUC here or find excerpts of their reporting below.
Dickinson County townships get EGLE grants
Blake Rierson
WLUC
Oct. 18, 2024
VULCAN, Mich. (WLUC) - Norway, Sagola and Felch Townships are being awarded Renewables Ready Communities Awards by Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
The townships qualified for the state grant after they provided Circle Power with permits to build the Groveland Mine Solar Project.
Norway Township Supervisor Don Byczek says the money is a windfall for the township.
“We have like a $300,000 budget and we have to do a lot of things with that money,” Byczek said. “And you can see if we get $250,000, we get a year’s worth of money in quite short order. And it will be very beneficial for the people of Norway Township.”
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In a statement, Circle Power CEO Jordan Roberts says:
“From the beginning, the partnership of Felch, Norway, and Sagola Townships has been essential to developing Groveland Mine Solar. These grants are proof of the positive impact that can be had when local leaders and development groups work hand-in-hand. We at Circle Power congratulate the townships on receiving this grant. We look forward to continuing to work with local leaders to unlock economic development opportunities as the project moves forward.”
The Renewables Ready Communities Awards will continue accepting applications until funding runs out.
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Read the full story here.
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About Groveland Mine Solar: Located in Dickinson County, Mich., Groveland Mine Solar is an economic development opportunity for the region that will provide new revenue to local governments and create construction jobs. Ground-mounted solar arrays will be sited on public and private portions of the decommissioned Groveland Mine, which operated from the early 1950s until 1981 under the ownership of the Hanna Mining Company. Groveland Mine Solar has signed a letter of intent with the Upper Peninsula Building Trades Council to guarantee that the project will be constructed with union labor. The project is proudly supported by Operating Engineers 324, Laborers’ Union Local 1329, Michigan Association of Carpenters & Millwrights, IBEW Local 906, the U.P. Building Trades Council, and the Upper Peninsula Construction Council.