Developer ESA Solar has announced successful permitting of the Salzburg Battery Storage Project, a 150MW/600MWh standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Midland Township, Michigan, US.
The BESS, with a 30 year lifecycle, is designed for peak shaving, load shifting and regulation. It will be built with a dedicated substation to connect directly to Michigan’s transmission system.
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ESA says it got a “first-of-its-kind” approval in the permitting process with Midland Township, state regulators and ESA’s public relations and entitlement teams. The project is in the Midcontinental Independent System Operator (MISO) 2023 study cycle with an expectation of completing the study process in 2026.
Speaking with Energy-Storage.news, ESA said the “first-of-its-kind” status given to the approval refers to: “Our ability to navigate Michigan’s new permitting framework, established through Public Act 233 of 2023.”
“This legislation enables a streamlined, locally-driven siting process for renewable energy and energy storage projects. The key distinction lies in the adoption of Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinances (CREOs) by municipalities. Projects in municipalities with CREOs can proceed through local permitting, avoiding state-level review, which significantly reduces delays and accelerates development.”
MISO is responsible for managing the grid across all or part of 15 US states including Michigan, plus Manitoba in Canada.
In 2023, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation targeting a 100% clean energy standard by 2040, and a 2030 target for 2,500MW of energy storage in the state.
Utilities there are set to receive part of a package of US$15 billion in conditional commitments to various utilities nationwide from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) days before president Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Since that time, the president announced the “Unleashing American Energy” executive order, which required that “all agencies shall immediately pause the disbursement of funds” administered through either the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) or the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for programs, projects, or activities not in line with Trump’s new policies. How much this covers is not yet clear.
In late 2024, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved an application from Consumers Energy Co. for a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Voyager Energy Storage for a 100MW/400MWh BESS located in Washtenaw County. Voyager Energy Storage is operated by developer Jupiter Power, which also signed a PPA for a 100MW BESS with Consumers Energy in June of 2024.
Elsewhere in the MISO service region, Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham passed legislation to accelerate energy storage in the Midwest state through Illinois Senate Bill 3997, which has currently been adjourned sine die, meaning the legislature has adjourned without setting a date to reconvene.
Lindsay Latre, CEO of ESA said of the announced project permitting: “The Salzburg Project exemplifies our commitment to delivering innovative energy solutions that benefit local communities and strengthen the electric grid.”
“This milestone is the culmination of years of work, showcasing our team’s ability to navigate rigorous state and local permitting processes. We are proud to lead the way in Michigan and lay the groundwork for future standalone energy systems in the region.”
Ascend Analytics announces sale process on behalf of ESA for 36 BESS projects
In addition to this announcement, Ascend Analytics has launched a sales process on behalf of ESA for its MISO BESS portfolio, located across Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
The portfolio includes 36 early-stage BESS projects with the potential for approximately 6GW of storage capacity. It features projects that have been diligenced and selected for their commercial feasibility and attractiveness to potential off-takers.
Latre added about the portfolio sale: “We are delighted to be working with Ascend to bring this portfolio to market, leveraging their asset valuation expertise and deep pool of high-quality buyers, so that we find the right partners to develop this portfolio through construction and beyond.”
“As MISO’s energy transition continues to accelerate, the energy price volatility grows, increasing the demand and opportunity for strategically located, high-quality battery storage assets.”
This story has been updated from its original publication to reflect comment from ESA-Solar on the “first-of-its-kind” status ascribed to the approval.
