Read Sunrise Mountain's Letter to the Michigan Senate Supporting Proposed Community Solar Legislation

June 13, 2024

Sunrise Mountain Partners, LLC
6605 Longshore St., Ste. 240
Dublin, OH 43017

Chairman McCann, Majority Vice Chair McDonald Rivet, Minority Vice Chair Lauwers, and members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment:  

Thank you for the opportunity to submit proponent testimony on behalf of Senate Bills 152 and 153 (SB 152 and SB 153), bills to support the development of Community Solar in Michigan.

I write to you as the CEO of Sunrise Mountain Partners. We develop, build, and operate solar farms that provide clean electricity and economic benefits to local communities. Our people have a decade of combined experience in the development, ownership, and operation of sun farms across the country.

I am from the Midwest. I grew up in Dublin, Ohio and am the grandson of dairy farmers. I have fond memories of High Adventure trips with the Boy Scouts paddling Michigan’s waterways and hiking the sand dunes. I understand farmers, local communities and their needs, as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as Michigan adapts to an evolving energy landscape.  

Our firm has signed long-term leases with 17 landowners across the state, from Manistee to Cement City to Arenac County. Our landowners are business owners, retirees looking for a passive income, and family farmers who would like to keep farming the remainder of their land, among many others. Our solar land leases offer Michigan landowners steady, reliable income. Building strong relationships with these landowners and their communities is the most important part of our business.

We also understand the importance of land stewardship. Sunrise Mountain Partners is committed to leaving our land in a better state than we found it through our use of sustainable practices. We intend to grow native grasses and plant species and create pollinator-friendly habitats in accordance with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) guidelines at our project sites. We see ourselves as not merely land tenants but privileged caretakers, entrusted with preserving the integrity of the land for future generations.

The projects will provide clean, reliable energy and tax revenue directly to the towns and communities they will inhabit. Building these distributed energy resources can help Michigan achieve its clean energy goals, and will complement the state’s existing clean gas, hydro, nuclear, coal, wind and utility-scale solar power plants.

Sunrise Mountain Partners stands firmly behind Senate Bills 152 and 153. These bills signify a critical opportunity for Michigan to embrace renewable energy, drive economic growth, and build a more resilient future for the state and electrical grid.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Nicholas Minekime
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Nicholas Minekime



Sunrise Mountain Partners, LLC · Dublin, OH | Stamford, CT · sunrisemountainpartners.com · 614-683-7573