Caledonia Solar: 117 megawatts, zero applications.
This file opens before the fight starts.

A project that exists on paper — corporate paper only

Caledonia Solar appears on Consumers Energy's official solar-projects page with a dedicated contact mailbox, and the utility's project map pins it just west of Spruce, northeast of Hubbard Lake. MISO's interconnection queue, as captured Oct 2, 2026, lists two active solar entries in Alcona County with an in-service date of April 1, 2027: J3451 (120 MW, queued April 5, 2024) and J3539 (116.9 MW, queued March 28, 2024), both in Phase 2 of MISO's 2023 study cycle (queue record). The queue does not name developers, so the record does not show which entry, if either, is Caledonia Solar. The company's project page, as captured Oct 2, 2026, gives 2029 for the start of commercial operation (company page). Unlike Gustin Solar next door, no news outlet has covered it, no predecessor developer surfaced, and no easement filings have come to light.

One physical fact on the ground: Consumers energized a new Alcona County substation this January for "increased electrical capacity" in the Lincoln–Harrisville–Mikado area — the utility hasn't publicly tied it to its solar plans.

While nobody watched, Caledonia Township did its homework

This is the part of the file that distinguishes Caledonia from its neighbors. The township adopted a full zoning ordinance in April 2025 whose Section 7.28 already governs Large Solar Energy Systems — engineer-certified site plans, screening, decommissioning — and it operates under a joint master plan with Alcona and Hawes Townships. Solar interest here isn't new: the commission held a solar-ordinance hearing back in 2021, with farmers speaking for leases and neighbors against.

With NEMCOG's regional planners, the commission has been amending its solar, wind, and battery provisions. It held the public hearing on Aug 31, 2026, approved the changes and sent them to the Alcona County commissioners. On Sept 8 the township board approved “Ordinance 26-01” (draft minutes); the minutes do not say in words that this is the same amendment. Read against PA 233, this looks like compatible-ordinance alignment: the work a township does to keep its seat at the table when a 117 MW project eventually files.

Key records, mirrored

As with every file we open: verbatim copies, integrity fingerprints. New township documents will be captured automatically as they publish.

What has happened, and what comes next

• Aug 10, 2026 — Planning Commission sets the hearing for Aug 31 (final minutes).
• Aug 31, 2026 — Public hearing held; amendments approved and sent to the county (draft minutes).
• Sept 8, 2026 — Township board approves Ordinance 26-01 (draft minutes).
• Any time — An application files, either with the township under its ordinance or at the MPSC under PA 233 (117 MW, the company's figure, is far above the 50 MW state threshold).
• Ongoing — MISO's 2023 study cycle for the two Alcona entries above (queue record); the company's project page gives 2029 for the start of commercial operation.
• Statewide — The Michigan Supreme Court decides whether to hear the appeal and cross-appeals from the Court of Appeals decision on the MPSC's order implementing PA 233 (No. 170249).