Sources

Where the Numbers Come From

Every figure on this site is drawn from publicly available sources. We do not represent any of these organizations.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)

Official source for Michigan farmland acreage, crop yields, cash rent, and commodity statistics.

MSU Extension

Michigan State University Extension publishes farm management research, lease guidance, and energy project resources for Michigan landowners.

Michigan Farm Bureau

Producer-side guidance on land leases, model contract clauses, and policy positions on rural energy projects.

Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Analysis

Annual independent analysis of unsubsidized cost-per-MWh for major electricity generation technologies.

Michigan Public (NPR/PBS)

Independent reporting on Michigan energy projects, ordinance debates, and PA 233 implementation.

Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC)

State agency overseeing PA 233 siting applications and orders for large renewable energy projects.

MSU Extension — Michigan Land Use Guidelines for Siting Wind Energy Systems

Michigan-specific guidance on setbacks, sound limits, and shadow flicker review for wind projects.

MPSC — Report on Setback Requirements and Noise Limitations in Wind Zones

State analysis of how setbacks and dB(A) noise limits affect wind siting outcomes in Michigan.

Michigan Sea Grant — Wind Turbine Flicker, Noise & Air Quality Brief

Plain-language explainer of how shadow flicker and noise from wind turbines are evaluated.

Michigan DNR — Voluntary Best Management Practices for Wind Energy and Wildlife

Michigan DNR guidance on siting and operating wind projects to reduce risk to birds and bats.

MPSC — March 2026 approval of six energy storage contracts (1,332 MW)

Michigan Public Service Commission news release announcing approval of six utility-scale battery energy storage contracts totaling 1,332 MW, including a project tied to a Saline Township data center.

Michigan Public Act 235 of 2023 — 2,500 MW Energy Storage Target

Statute setting Michigan's statewide energy storage target of 2,500 megawatts by 2029.

MPSC — Renewable Energy and Storage Facility Siting (PA 233)

MPSC overview of the state-level siting process for qualifying utility-scale renewable energy and storage facilities under Public Act 233 of 2023.

U-M Graham Sustainability Institute — Planning & Zoning for Battery Energy Storage Systems

University of Michigan guide for Michigan local governments on planning, zoning, fire safety, and ordinance language for battery energy storage systems.

Michigan Association of Planning — Free Guides on Renewable Energy & Storage

Free guides for Michigan communities covering renewable energy and battery storage planning, zoning, and ordinance considerations.

Detroit Free Press — Data Center Growth and Michigan's Energy Future

Free Press reporting on the role of data center load growth in Michigan's electricity demand outlook.

WKAR — Michigan Data Centers Could Require Power Equal to Six Nuclear Plants

WKAR public radio reporting on the scale of DTE's data-center pipeline (4+ GW) and questions about Michigan grid capacity.

WDET 101.9 FM — Data Centers and Energy Costs in Michigan

Coverage of who pays for data-center-driven grid upgrades and the implications for Michigan ratepayers.

Union of Concerned Scientists — Data Center Power Play in Michigan

Analysis projecting that data centers could account for ~40% of Michigan electricity demand growth by 2030 in a mid scenario, and up to ~57% in a high scenario.

MSU Extension — Leasing Land for Solar Projects

Michigan State University Extension's hub on solar lease economics, contract terms, decommissioning, drain tile, and zoning considerations for Michigan farmers.

MSU Extension — Farmland Rental Agreements and Arrangements

MSU Extension guidance on cash rent, lease structures, escalators, and contract language for Michigan farmland.

NREL — Land-Use Requirements for Solar Power Plants in the United States

National Renewable Energy Laboratory technical report establishing per-MW land-use figures for utility-scale solar across PV and CSP technologies.

LBNL — Land Requirements for Utility-Scale PV (Bolinger 2022)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory empirical update on land use per MW and per MWh for U.S. utility-scale solar.

Michigan Public Act 233 of 2023 — Full Text

Enrolled text of Michigan's renewable energy and storage siting law, including size thresholds (≥100 MW solar/wind, ≥50 MW storage) and MPSC certificate authority.

MPSC — PA 233 Application Filing Instructions and Procedures

Michigan Public Service Commission's official procedures for PA 233 siting certificates — covers thresholds, baseline standards, and the role of compatible local ordinances.

USDA NASS — Michigan Cash Rent County Estimates 2024

Official 2024 county-by-county cash rent values for Michigan farmland used as the baseline for the income calculator.

USDA NASS — Michigan November Crop Production 2024

USDA NASS release reporting record Michigan corn and soybean yields used as the basis for per-acre income comparisons.

USDA NASS — Michigan Farm Real Estate Values and Cash Rents 2024

Statewide 2024 farm real estate values and average cash rents for Michigan, used to benchmark farm income vs. lease income.

Numbers on this site are approximations drawn from these public sources. We do not represent any of them. Always confirm critical figures against current primary-source data.