Ogemaw County adopts temporary moratorium on utility‑scale solar, battery storage and data centers

The Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners adopted a temporary moratorium on utility‑scale solar projects, large battery storage systems and data centers to give planning staff time to draft new zoning standards and public engagement. Planning staff said the moratorium (PEX Amendment 01‑26) excludes residential accessory solar arrays and does not apply inside the city of West Branch, West Branch Township or Edwards Township.

Planning director Ryan summarized the proposed ordinance change and told commissioners the pause is intended to allow the county to develop a comprehensive approach that distinguishes utility‑scale farms from smaller commercial and municipal installations. "This currently would be the moratorium for every township in the county outside of West Branch Township, Edwards Township, and then the city of West Branch," Ryan said.

Commissioners who support the moratorium emphasized the need to protect farmland and ensure the county builds clear rules for decommissioning, setbacks and bonding. Several commissioners said they did not want the moratorium to prevent municipal entities such as the airport or public transit from pursuing cost‑saving rooftop or small‑scale systems; planning staff indicated such uses could be explicitly allowed in the zoning language the county will draft.

The board instructed planning staff to hold workshops, work with stakeholders and draft ordinance language during the moratorium period; the moratorium includes language allowing extension if more time is needed to finalize regulations.