Oshtemo Township plans to extend its energy and data center moratoriums so all of them end December 31, 2027.
Board members were told draft ordinances would extend both the zoning and non-zoning moratoriums on energy systems and on data centers, for four ordinances in all. They are expected at the board’s next meeting, November. 10. The board can end the moratoriums earlier. Board members said aligning the end dates would clear up questions about when each one started and when each expires. They were also told the planning department has finished the formalities for the solar moratorium.
The board discussed an October 21 email from NewEdge Renewable Power’s director of permitting to the township’s planning director, which was included in the board packet. The email says that, given project schedule constraints set by MISO transmission queue schedules, the company does not expect to come to the township until the third quarter (September or October) of 2027 for an initial meeting. It says a potential permit application would follow in the first quarter of 2028.
The planning commission is still revising the draft energy ordinance. The commission’s board representative said there was nothing new to report at this point. Board members said NewEdge’s plans have not changed because of the ordinance work, and that the board will keep moving forward on the draft. The planning commission will send the draft to the board, which will decide whether it is a workable ordinance and the one it wants to enact.
