LANSING — Three area townships will receive sizeable state grants for being part of the Groveland Mine Solar project, a grid-connected solar facility slated for development in Dickinson County.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on Thursday announced the first round of Renewables Ready Communities Awards, totaling $3.5 million, for nine local governments in the state that are hosting these projects.

RRCA grants aim to accelerate the buildout of large-scale renewable energy projects — such as wind, solar and storage — by providing “flexible incentives” to local units of government that permit such operations, according to an EGLE news release. RRCA grants are provided in addition to the tax revenue and community benefits already received by host communities.

For the Groveland Mine Solar project, Felch Township will receive $141,000; Norway Township, $252,500; and Sagola Township, $106,500.

Groveland Mine Solar will be sited on mining waste and lands previously affected by the former Groveland Mine in those townships.

These grants can be used to make improvements and offer additional services. Examples include road and bridge repairs, fire department upgrades, park and playground enhancements, accessibility accommodations and grounds improvements, energy upgrades for public buildings and streetlight upgrades, according to the news release.

The 62.5-megawatt, utility-scale solar project will be owned by Copper Country Power I LLC, a subsidiary of Troy, Mich.-based Circle Power Renewables, a

past news release from the company states.

Circle Power estimated last year that work might start in 2025, with the project going online in 2026 or 2027. Once constructed, Groveland Mine Solar is expected to be operational for at least 30 years. A decommissioning agreement is in place with the three townships to ensure the solar facility is removed at the end of the project’s life.

In August, Circle Power Renewables and Upper Peninsula Power Company announced that the Michigan Public Service Commission had approved a power purchase agreement for Groveland Mine Solar.

“Expanding access to renewable energy is critical to meeting the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, the state’s climate action plan; protecting our land, air, and water; reducing unhealthy air emissions; and lowering energy costs for families,” EGLE Director Phil Roos said in a news release. “Today’s grants from the Renewables Ready Communities Awards will support the build out of enough renewable energy projects to power 700,000 Michigan households while providing the communities that host the projects with additional revenue for community improvements and services.”

The RRCA is a key tool to meeting the state’s 60% renewable energy and 100% clean energy standards set under the recently enacted clean energy laws, according to EGLE. The first round of RRCA grants will support the deployment of 700 megawatts of solar energy.

The other local governments to receive grants in this first round: Day Township in Montcalm County, $1.5 million; Belknap Township in Presque Isle County, $152,500; Presque Isle County, $375,000; Pulawski Township in Jackson County, $106,500; Isabella County, $375,000; and Isabella Township in Isabella County, $375,000.

There is no deadline to apply for this funding opportunity. Grants from RRCA will remain available until funds are depleted.

For more information, including eligibility requirements, funding amounts and awardee obligations, go to EGLE’s Renewables Ready Communities Award website, https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials-management/energy/rfps-loans/renewables-ready-communities-award.