Viewing Grant Proposal: Superior Solar Utility-Scale Solar Project

As clearly outlined in the SSP submission, this project has been carefully planned to attain a technically, economically, and environmentally sound design. Perhaps even more important is the community impact the project stands to achieve in a region grappling with its transitioning away from a coal-country past and defining what its energy future will look like. The SSP LLC has already begun assembling a solid coalition of local stakeholders from diverse backgrounds; utilities, city planners, NGOs, ATV enthusiasts, students, and outdoors people all stand ready to support this vital work. The Superior Watershed Partnership reiterates its support for the SSP and looks forward to collaborating.

As clearly outlined in the SSP submission, this project has been carefully planned to attain a technically, economically, and environmentally sound design. Perhaps even more important is the community impact the project stands to achieve in a region grappling with its transitioning away from a coal-country past and defining what its energy future will look like. The SSP LLC has already begun assembling a solid coalition of local stakeholders from diverse backgrounds; utilities, city planners, NGOs, ATV enthusiasts, students, and outdoors people all stand ready to support this vital work. The Superior Watershed Partnership reiterates its support for the SSP and looks forward to collaborating.

As the CEO of Innovate Marquette Smartzone I fully support the Superior Solar Project 2022 Low Carbon EIED Grant Proposal. It is our view that local citizens, our constituents, should have access to renewable energy options. With the approval of this submission, local UP residents will have that choice. In addition, this project sets precedence for many projects to come. The SmartZone mission is to introduce and support new technology in our region. This site will exemplify that mission and provide an example of sustainable technology practices for many generations to come.

As a resident of Sands Township I am in complete support of this proposal. As someone who values our natural resources I am pleased to see we are exploring opportunities for renewable energy.

The Superior Solar Project proposal is squarely supported by the goals can objectives of the Central UP Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS); a Federally recognized strategy for the six-county region. Specifically, the CEDS cites a goal to "Pursue opportunities to improve affordability and reliability of the region’s energy supply" and is followed by multiple supporting objectives, relating to affordable energy and growing the region's renewable energy portfolio. Furthermore, this project will be an economic boost for the region in an emerging industry, providing jobs wages for families and taxable income for communities. A project of this scale is remarkable for the region, and will no doubt inspire the current and future workforce and students to support sustainable technologies and energy generation.

As a resident of Marquette County, I fully support the development of the Superior Solar Project in Sands Township. I believe the project would provide more than long-term environmental sustainability; the project would bring energy security and economic benefits to this community for at least the next two decades. In terms of climate change adaptation and planning, which I'm primarily focused on, the scale of this project would help to substantially offset carbon emissions in our region. The project would also bring the Upper Peninsula to the forefront of resilient, rural communities in the country. Being resilient in the face of a rapidly changing climate means changing the course of our coal-burning and natural gas-dependent past. We are resilient when we reconfigure our systems so that we can generate clean, carbon-free energy for our children. I believe the Superior Solar project provides an opportunity for resilience leadership. This project will demonstrate that the Upper Peninsula is on the front wave of the next energy boom. We can grow the green energy economy here, in our backyard. Ten years from now, projects like this will be commonplace across the country, but today – we can reap the benefits of early adoption, mitigate climate change impacts, and grow our local economy. The Superior Solar Project is a win-win opportunity for our community and our climate. I fully support the project as proposed and look forward to the day when I can tell my grandchildren about the story of the UP’s most beautiful solar farm.

As a member of the global Climate Reality Project and a long-time climate activist, I concur with other comments - the plan represents a powerful and dramatic opportunity for the region. Residential - and commercial - power costs are stunning and outrageous compared with other locations. Costs do burden many households and inhibit commercial development. Putting SSP's carbon-free energy on the grid will be a major cost relief and also make overall rapid decarbonization through "electrification of everything" a realistic target. The importance of this dimension cannot be overstated. Consumers and industry will be more likely to undertake the migration to EV's, heat pumps and induction kitchens if the operating costs can be shown to be manageable. This will also enable many households to minimize their use of natural gas and propane, and eliminate their related carbon emissions. On the other hand, the significant reduction in CO2 burden is by itself a significant climate success. We are experiencing carbon combustion products today from 30 years ago. Taking 110,000 tons of CO2 out of the region's contribution annually is in line with the State's climate plan and makes it more likely that the region will be better placed to sustain its natural features and resources for our grands to the seventh generation. So yes! I support this submission to the strongest possible degree.

As a resident where this project is planned (Sands Township), I think it a great step into the future as we head into the era of clean, green energy and energy independence from fossil fuels. I also appreciate that it will be economically beneficial to the community and the State. It will also enhance Michigan's reputation as a progressive State focused on the future!

As a citizen of Marquette County, Senior Planner for the County of Marquette and Chairperson for the Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force (CATF), I again share my support for the Superior Solar Project (SSP) Proposal! The SSP team has done an excellent job to date working along side the community by conducting presentations and outreach events. I truly believe they have the benefit of the consumers in mind- their neighbors! The U.P. needs more localized, distributed, renewable energy generation and this proposal fits that criteria. The SSP team has pledged to hire local union contractors to build out their project and support the retention of our young adults. This point is crucial in a large scale economic development project; the U.P. needs wins like this to have a sustainable future. The SSP will lock in pricing for consumers and this would be another huge win for U.P. residents who have grappled with high electric costs. With the transition to Electric Vehicles already underway, we need to have the supply available to meet this projected demand to charge them. Please accept my comment in support of this locally led, SISU driven project that will systematically upgrade our current energy generation and align the central U.P. with the goals of CATF, the Marquette County Master Plan 2040, the Central U.P. Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, the U.P. Energy Task Force recommendations, The MI Healthy Climate Plan and national and global goals for decarbonization to curb the effects of a changing climate.

As a resident of Marquette County, I fully support the development of the Superior Solar Project in Sands Township. The project will bring the Upper Peninsula to the forefront of resilient, rural communities in the country. Our community is asking for clean electrical energy, but so far our utilities, for the most part, are not stepping up to the challenge. This project encourage utilities to move forward in the transition to a clean energy economy.