Developing Solutions for Brownfield Renewable Energy in Michigan
University of Michigan
Master of Urban and Regional Planning
In November 2023, Michigan enacted ambitious renewable energy legislation. While large-scale renewable projects are crucial to meeting these goals, public support is stronger for siting projects on previously disturbed properties, such as brownfields, rather than farmland or forests. However, developing renewable energy on brownfields presents costs, infrastructure, and site selection challenges. To address these barriers, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy launched a Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot Program. The University of Michigan graduate student team supported the program by identifying scalable models, tools, and resources to advance brownfield renewable energy across Michigan. Congratulations to Christian Beswick, James Daye, Rebecca Griswold, Zhongyi He, Annie Lively, Jinren Yuan, Estella Zhang Qiming, and faculty advisor Sarah Mills!