Oshtemo Township Grapples with BESS Ordinance Under State Law

Experts from EGLE, MPSC, and University of Michigan outline options and limitations for local regulation of battery energy storage systems.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:04am

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An abstract, geometric painting in earthy tones depicting the intricate interplay of renewable energy, battery storage, and local governance, conveying the structural order and tensions of the evolving energy grid.As Oshtemo Township grapples with the realities of state renewable energy policy, a complex web of competing interests and limited local control emerges.Coldwater Today

Oshtemo Township held a town hall meeting where state regulators and sustainability experts discussed the reality of Michigan's renewable energy law and the options available to the township in regulating large-scale battery storage facilities, known as BESS. The experts acknowledged the risks associated with BESS, including noise, environmental concerns, and fire hazards, but said local ordinances can address these issues. However, they also explained that under state law, local ordinances that are stricter than the state's 'compatible renewable energy ordinance' standard can be considered 'incompatible', allowing developers to bypass the township and seek approval directly from the Michigan Public Service Commission. The meeting drew a room full of residents who have been organizing against a proposed BESS project near the Oshtemo-Almena Township border.

Why it matters

This issue highlights the tension between state-level renewable energy goals and local control over land use and development. The experts' presentations outline the limited options available to Oshtemo Township in regulating BESS facilities, despite significant community opposition to the proposed project. The outcome will set a precedent for how Michigan municipalities can balance state energy policy with local concerns.

The details

The town hall featured presentations from representatives of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), and the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute. They explained that BESS facilities store surplus energy from the power grid when costs are low and release it when demand and prices are higher. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the industry standard, though sodium-ion technology is gaining interest. The experts acknowledged the risks associated with BESS, including noise, environmental concerns, and fire hazards, but said local ordinances can address these issues through measures like decibel limits, continuous monitoring, and mandatory emergency response training.

  • The town hall was held on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • Oshtemo Township's one-year moratorium on commercial battery energy storage development, approved at the end of 2025, is set to end at the end of 2026, but could be extended.

The players

Ian O'Leary

Representative from EGLE's energy services unit.

Madeleine Krol

Researcher from the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute.

Sarah Mullkoff

Manager of the MPSC's Renewable Energy and Storage Siting Section.

Katie Schneider

Oshtemo Township resident and business owner whose farm is adjacent to the proposed BESS site.

NewEdge Renewable Power

The company that had expressed interest in the Van Kal Avenue BESS site.

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What they’re saying

“There is a there is a legit fire and explosion risk with this. I also do want to say they are getting increasingly safe without injury.”

— Madeleine Krol, Researcher, University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute

“It does have to make room for renewables in order for the developer not to call the MPSC.”

— Ian O'Leary, Representative, EGLE's energy services unit

“On paper, if there was as much battery as there was generation, then there wouldn't be a peak or an off-peak price. But that's again, on paper.”

— Ian O'Leary, Representative, EGLE's energy services unit

“I'm a business owner, a farmer and a parent here in Oshtemo Township. I can tell you there are over 350 families with signs in their yard against this project. There are 1,500 of us that belong to the 'Say No to Oshtemo BESS Facebook group,' and we currently have over a thousand signatures on our petition against this project.”

— Katie Schneider, Oshtemo Township Resident

“Everybody here is against it. And oh, joy, we get to have an out-of-state landowner lease his land to an out-of-state energy company... and really nothing we can do about it. That's what we've been told.”

— Oshtemo Township Resident

What’s next

The Oshtemo Township planning commission is expected to use the expert presentations to inform a draft local ordinance, which would then go before the township board for review, potential amendment, or vote. The township's one-year moratorium on commercial battery energy storage development could also be extended beyond the end of 2026.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges local governments face in balancing state-level renewable energy goals with community concerns over the risks and impacts of large-scale battery storage facilities. Despite significant local opposition, Oshtemo Township's options for regulating the proposed BESS project appear limited under Michigan's current energy laws, raising questions about the ability of municipalities to have a meaningful say in such developments.