Fremont Township awarded $600,000 for solar project with EDP Renewables

Fremont Township, located in Saginaw County, has secured $600,000 in public funding for its partnership with EDP Renewables North America to develop the Eagle Creek Solar Park.

Share:

The municipality of Fremont Township in Saginaw County has been awarded $600,000 through the Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA) programme by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This recognition follows the township’s partnership with EDP Renewables North America LLC to develop the 120-megawatt Eagle Creek Solar Park.

The Eagle Creek Solar Park is designed to generate electricity for the equivalent of 33,500 average Michigan households. In addition to power generation, the project is set to deliver substantial local financial returns, with over $41mn in taxes allocated to local governments, and an additional $68mn to participating landowners through land leases and neighbour agreements.

Long-term fiscal and territorial impact

According to EDP Renewables North America LLC, the construction of the site will create more than 250 temporary jobs. Upon completion, several permanent roles will be established to manage and maintain the facility. The company has also emphasised the indirect economic benefits, such as local expenditure linked to construction activities, including catering, accommodation services, and the engagement of regional contractors.

Tom LoTurco, Executive Vice President for the Eastern Region, Canada and Government Affairs at EDP Renewables North America, praised the collaboration with the municipality and highlighted the broader economic significance of the project for the entirety of Saginaw County.

Public funding supporting local infrastructure

The RRCA programme is intended to provide flexible grants to Michigan’s local governments for additional services and infrastructure related to energy projects. The funding awarded to Fremont Township reflects a model of targeted redistribution, where revenues from such developments are reinvested locally.

The Eagle Creek site strengthens EDP Renewables North America’s presence in the state and exemplifies the increasing mobilisation of public capital in support of large-scale energy developments. Authorities have stated their goal is to maximise economic returns for host communities without requiring direct financial contributions from residents.

Emerging economies from the BRICS group now account for more than half of global solar electricity production in 2024, driven mainly by China, India, and Brazil, according to a new report by the organisation Ember.
Star Trade, a subsidiary of HD Renewable Energy, has signed a power purchase agreement with Lightsource bp to manage electricity distribution from a 115 MWp solar project located in Chiayi, strengthening their presence in the Taiwanese market.
TotalEnergies will develop a 1.8 MW photovoltaic installation for Daehwa Pharmaceutical, covering approximately 20% of the annual energy requirements of the production site located in Hoengseong-gun, South Korea, under a 20-year agreement.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners announces full operational launch of Cleve Hill Solar Park, now becoming the largest active photovoltaic power plant in the United Kingdom with a total installed capacity reaching 373 MW.
European photovoltaic module manufacturer BISOL is integrating G12R solar cells into its product range, replacing the former M10 cells, to improve product performance and technological competitiveness starting from the second quarter of 2025.
Adani Green Energy Limited becomes the first Indian company to achieve 15,539.9 MW of operational renewable capacity, cementing its position among the global top 10 independent green power producers.
Italian group Pronur establishes itself in Saudi Arabia with support from AstroLabs, aiming to provide advanced technologies in the renewable energy sector and develop new industrial partnerships.
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. announces the launch of a $2mn public offering to finance working capital, product development and general expenses.
Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund takes control of 117 photovoltaic plants totalling 116 MW in Italy, further consolidating its presence in the country’s renewable energy sector.
Zelestra has secured $282mn financing from Natixis CIB, BNP Paribas and BCI for its Aurora project, combining a 220 MWdc solar plant and 1 GWh storage capacity in the Tarapacá region, Chile.
Egypt has been building an industrial photovoltaic solar complex in Ain Sokhna since June 19, aiming to stimulate strategic local production with a total investment of $200 million funded by the Chinese group Sunrev.
Générale du Solaire has inaugurated in Leutenheim, Bas-Rhin, a floating photovoltaic plant of approximately 20 MWc installed on a former gravel pit, marking the region's first large-scale project supported by successful local participatory funding.
Plenitude and Modine have signed an agreement to build a photovoltaic plant with an installed capacity of 1.585 MWp in Pocenia, designed to power thermal and refrigeration equipment at Modine’s Italian industrial site, without initial investment.
Namibia begins construction of its largest solar plant, Sores|Gaib, aiming to reduce dependence on energy imports by leveraging its solar potential, considered among the highest globally according to the World Bank.
Bangladesh’s interim government has ordered mandatory deployment of solar systems on public building rooftops to reduce reliance on costly fossil fuel imports amid a fragile economic backdrop.
The Energy Progress Report 2025 shows an improvement in global electricity access to 92%, but highlights that 666 million people remain without electricity, particularly due to insufficient international funding for rural areas.
Estimated at $384.4mn in 2025, the global photovoltaic panel recycling market is expected to grow annually by 7.4%, reaching $548mn in 2030, driven by the rapidly increasing number of installations reaching end-of-life.
Estimated at $613.57bn in 2025, the global photovoltaic market is expected to reach $968.32bn by 2030, driven by declining costs and growing demand from residential and utility sectors, according to a MarketsandMarkets analysis published on June 26.
Sasol International Chemicals concludes a virtual contract with Akuo to supply half of the electrical needs for its Lake Charles industrial complex in the United States, via a solar plant scheduled for 2026.
Eurowind Energy initiates a €174.8mn investment to build a 220 MW solar park in Vișina, Romania, capable of supplying around 150,000 households annually.