The residents weigh in the Cold Creek Solar Park in Coldwater Township

Quincy, me. – The DTE Energy and Ford Motor Company broke the ground on Tuesday morning in the Cold Creek Solar Park in Coldwater Township.

It is the second solar park in Branch County, which DTE has for construction, with the Saub Solar Park in Union City is the first.

DTE, Ford, local officials and landowners claim that the park will bring economic prosperity into the region.

“I am very grateful for DTE for what you did for our community,” said Donald Rogers, Supervisor from Coldwater Township.

DTE and Ford also said that there are no negative effects on the environment.

However, some inhabitants of Quincy and the surrounding area said News Channel 3 that they are still upset about the construction of the park.

“It will sit there and do nothing,” said Aaron Farmer, who has been living in Quincy for over 20 years. “So, the money from our community goes to places like this, creates an eye pain and kills natural habitat for animals and for what?”

While the residents understand that the goal of the solar park is that Ford reduces their CO2 emissions and achieved their goals of carbon neutrality by 2050, the construction of the park still gives them a break and believe that investments in the area could go elsewhere.

“It seems nice because they try to cut CO2 emissions, but it doesn’t seem to be nice at the same time because they have all the stuff that could be put in the ground that is not good for that,” said Issaiah Gibbs. “I think you should plant trees in these places.”

DTE published an explanation of News Channel 3 with regard to concerns from the residents.

The statement is as follows:

The Cold Creek Solar Park by DTE is financed by voluntary DTE customer registers in its Migreenpower program. There are no cost effects on the residents, and in fact the park will generate considerable tax revenue for the municipality – millions of dollars that can flow into local priorities such as streets, schools, first aiders and other important services. There will also be no impact on the country around the development, and at the end of the expected lifespan of the park (approx. 25 years), DTE will restore the country in its original state. During the entire planning and development of the park, DTE worked closely with local officials, and we look forward to being a good neighbor and a partnership with the community in the coming years.

The park is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.