The event highlighted the long-term collaboration and investment that made the redevelopment possible. Following remarks, attendees participated in a walking tour of the resort grounds—once the site of industrial contamination along the Keweenaw Waterway, now is home to cabins, campsites and recreational amenities that are drawing visitors and economic activity to the region.

“Transforming pollution hotspots into tourist destinations like the Keweenaw Waters Resort is the kind of outcome that EPA strives for,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. “EPA is honored to bring clean water, land, and air—and economic opportunity—to this scenic Michigan community.”

Developer Derek Bradway of Bradway Enterprises brought a new vision to life on the shores of the Keweenaw Waterway, something that was unthinkable decades ago. The Keweenaw Waters Resort spans 25 acres and includes 24 sustainably constructed cabins and 89 RV and tent sites.  A swimming beach, fishing dock and nature boardwalk are currently in development.

“This beautiful development has received a lot of local support as well as positive reviews from our guests,” said Derek Bradway, Keweenaw Water Resorts site developer. “It is a testimony of what can be done when all parties, national, state and local can align with the private sector.  Because of the work done by the EGLE and EPA, sites like this are ready to be put back into use, for everyone’s benefit.”

LANSING, Michigan —Today, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced the newest round of Renewables Ready Communities Awards (RRCA) to support communities hosting solar power and battery storage projects that will generate enough clean energy to power more than 847,000 Michigan households and businesses.

“Through these awards, EGLE is pleased to support communities that are working toward Michigan’s healthy, sustainable, clean energy future,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “We look forward to the Renewables Ready Communities Awards program continuing to enable local governments to invest where they see needs in public safety, community services, and more.”

The RRCA program offers flexible funding to local governments for community improvements and additional services like road and bridge repairs, public safety, park enhancements, and building upgrades. This program incentivizes communities to host large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind, solar, and storage by providing awards that supplement existing tax revenue and community benefits.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2024 budget included $30 million to fund the RRCA’s initial rounds, and EGLE is awaiting state legislative action to release another $129.1 million in funding the federal government issued in October 2024. Once legislative authorization is given, these funds, which require no state match, can be used to scale up the RRCA, launch a pilot to build renewable energy projects on brownfields, strengthen support for local governments through EGLE’s Renewable Energy Academy, support clean energy-related workforce development, and develop a comprehensive strategy to meet the state’s goal of 60% renewable energy by 2035.

So far, EGLE has awarded more than $24.2 million out of its initial $30 million budget allocation to 35 counties, cities, and townships across the state’s two peninsulas that are hosting enough for solar and battery storage projects to power more than 5 million households.

The newest awards

The current round of awards totals $3.67 million and supports six local units of government. Here are the awardees and the renewable energy projects for which they approved siting:

• $1.67 million to Colfax Township in Huron County for the Century Oaks Storage battery project ($1 million) and the Huron County Silver Creek Solar project ($670,000).

• $748,500 to Sands Township in Marquette County for the Superior Solar project.

• $675,000 to Fayette Township in Hillsdale County for the Heartwood Solar project.

• $297,500 to Johnstown Township in Barry County for the Spring Creek Solar project.

• $245,000 to Quincy Township in Branch County for the Cold Creek Solar project.

• $35,000 to Butler Township in Branch County for the Cold Creek Solar project.

Half of each award is disbursed upon the start of energy project construction, and the other half upon operation. Most of the projects are expected to begin operation in 2026.

Sands Township will use its award for upgrades to Strawberry Lake Park, a nature trail at Sands Township Park, and renovation to its office complex including a gathering space for community use.

“Sands Township is honored to receive a Renewables Ready Community Award in recognition of our support for the Superior Solar Project,” said Township Supervisor Darlene Walch. “The projects are consistent with Sands Township’s Master Plan, and this award offers a significant financial boost, enabling us to provide these improvements to our residents sooner than anticipated.”

In Quincy Township, Supervisor Kurt Barve said his community’s RRCA funds will go toward a new building for the township cemetery.

LANSING, Michigan – The State of Michigan today released an update to its Domestic Action Plan (DAP) for combatting harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie.

The DAP contains measures to reduce phosphorus runoff into the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) that drives algal blooms by a sustained 40% from a 2008 baseline. The Michigan departments of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE); Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD); and Natural Resources (DNR) review and revise the DAP regularly based on progress and changing needs in the region.

“Challenges remain for keeping nutrients from farmland from entering western Lake Erie,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “Under the updated Domestic Action Plan, MDARD is partnering with the scientific and farming communities in a more proactive way to monitor water quality, understand soil health, and implement regenerative agriculture practices that keep nutrients on fields and out of waterways.”

“Functioning wetlands act as natural filters, intercepting nutrients from fields and streams before they enter Lake Erie,” said DNR Director Scott Bowen. “The DNR’s continued investment in wetland restoration, enhancement, and protection, especially in areas with high nutrient loads, can put natural processes to work to improve water quality in the basin.”

“From regenerative agriculture to enhanced water quality monitoring, this plan continues momentum toward healthier, cleaner lakes and streams,” said EGLE Director Phil Roos. “There is no one silver bullet that solves Lake Erie’s nutrient issues, but taken together, these efforts are substantial.”

The new DAP will be on the agenda for discussion at Michigan’s 2025 State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference, hosted by EGLE in partnership with MDARD, DNR, and the University of Michigan Water Center.

The June 26 conference at the Adrian Tobias Center in Adrian will draw conservation districts, watershed councils, local and state officials, researchers, farmers, and community members to focus on nutrient reduction goals and tracking progress.

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient to grow crops. It’s applied to farmland through fertilizers and manure. Phosphorus can leave farms and enter waterways during rain events or floods and ultimately enter Lake Erie, where it causes algal blooms each summer.

The DAP update is a status report on progress made since the release of the previous action plan.

Key strategies highlighted in the DAP include:

• EGLE’s continued work with WLEB communities to tighten sewage treatment facility permits.

• EGLE’s implementation of a new Soil Health Investment Program in partnership with the conservation districts in Hillsdale, Lenawee, Monroe and Washtenaw counties focusing on precision nutrient management and supporting strategic watershed management planning and implementation efforts.

• EGLE’s collaboration with MDARD and partners to develop agricultural conservation practice implementation strategies to reduce phosphorus loads.

• MDARD’s support of new innovative approaches and partnerships with a focus on regenerative agriculture principles and practices.

• MDARD’s partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes, LimnoTech, and Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research (MSU-IWR) on a major expansion of the water quality monitoring network.

• MDARD’s funding of the Great Lakes Watershed Management System – Nutrient Tracking Dashboard. This online platform, developed in partnership with MSU-IWR, tracks conservation practices and water quality outcomes, providing greater transparency and accountability to the public.

• MDARD’s funding of the WLEB Performance-based Conservation Adoption Program. This new partnership with MSU-IWR, the MSU Center for Regenerative Agriculture, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and others will allocate funding on the basis of the nutrient loss reductions achieved by the implementation of conservation practices. In 2017, MSU piloted this approach in the River Raisin Watershed and found it to be seven times more cost effective than traditional efforts to reduce phosphorus runoff.

• The departments’ partnership with the University of Michigan Water Center to form the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) Community Advisory Group and Science Panel to develop projects, identify policy and research gaps, and design an adaptive strategy to move the state toward its phosphorus management goals.

• Use of state and federal American Rescue Act funding by the DNR, conservation group Ducks Unlimited, and partners to restore more than 300 acres of wetlands in the Stony Creek and South Branch River Raisin subwatersheds to capture nutrient runoff from fields and improve local water quality conditions.

For more information on what Michigan is doing in the Western Lake Erie Basin or to view the DAP update, visit Michigan.gov/MDARD-WLEB.