The L'Anse solar array, with 340 panels, powers around 50 households or organizations.
A $140,000 state grant subsidized 25 low-to-moderate income households, reducing their electricity bills and financial stress.
The project, despite limited state support and low sunlight, succeeded due to community involvement and diverse funding.
Key quote:
“In its ideal form, community solar can be a mechanism for advancing energy justice.”
— Karl Hoesch, University of Michigan doctoral student
Why this matters:
Community solar projects like the one in L'Anse can serve as models for small towns, promoting energy justice and financial benefits. With increased funding from initiatives like the Inflation Reduction Act, more communities could replicate this success.
Michigan regulators' approval of gas units to replacing an aging coal plant was a setback for Upper Peninsula clean energy groups, but advocates still see opportunities to expand solar and efficiency.
