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140-MW Solar Project Nears Key Tax Approval in Michigan Township Vote Tonight
Obedio research
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The White Tail Solar Project—a 140-megawatt utility-scale solar development years in the making—is set to secure a major fiscal approval in Augusta Township, Michigan on November 25, 2025, marking a decisive milestone for one of the state’s largest renewable energy undertakings.
A Long Road to Approval
Developed by Ranger Power through White Tail Solar LLC, the project spans 1,160 to 1,500 acres of farmland in Augusta and York Townships in Washtenaw County. The facility, made up of two phases known as Railsplitter I and II, traces its origins back nearly a decade to an earlier concept, Rail Splitters One.
The development will place 81.945 MWac in Augusta Township and 58.055 MWac in York Township, generating enough electricity to power 15,000–20,000 homes annually.
White Tail’s journey was marked by sustained community resistance over land use, noise, property values, and ecological impacts. After rounds of negotiations, modifications to project design—including stricter setbacks—and the resolution of litigation through a 2023 consent judgment, the project secured its final site plan approval from the Augusta Township Planning Commission on July 17, 2024. Construction began later that year, with operations expected in 2025.
The High-Stakes Tax Question
Central to the project’s financial profile was whether Augusta Township would grant a Solar Energy Facility Exemption Certificate (SEFEC) under Michigan’s new Solar Energy Facilities Taxation Act (2023 PA 108).
The certificate offers utility-scale solar facilities a 20-year exemption from ad valorem real and personal property taxes, replacing them with a predictable Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). Local approval is required before the State Tax Commission can issue the certificate.
White Tail filed its application—Form 6052—on October 1, 2025.
Fiscal Impact: PILOT vs. Traditional Property Taxes
Augusta Township Assessor Christopher Coucke analyzed the fiscal tradeoffs. The PILT rate under the statute is fixed at $7,000 per megawatt (AC) annually.
For the project’s 81.945-MWac footprint in Augusta Township, the assessor calculated:
| Tax Scenario | Annual Revenue | 20-Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| PILOT (if SEFEC approved) | $573,615 | $11,472,300 |
| Ad valorem (if denied) | Variable (based on $67.5M initial taxable value) | $8,700,046 |
Coucke concluded that while ad valorem taxes produce more revenue in the earliest years, the 20-year PILT delivers a substantially higher total return and offers the township a stable, guaranteed revenue stream insulated from depreciation or valuation disputes.
Township Signs Off
On November 25, 2025, the Augusta Township Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on Resolution 25-21 to approve White Tail Solar’s exemption application. Supervisor Todd Waller declared the resolution adopted, sending the approval on to the State Tax Commission, which must now issue the final certificate.
The project also includes infrastructure commitments. White Tail Solar agreed to reimburse Augusta Township $219,000 for road repairs tied to construction activity—matching the cost of the township’s agreement with the Washtenaw County Road Commission.