Silver Maple Solar

Project introduction

Silver Maple Solar is a 200 MW clean energy project located in Zeeland and Jamestown Townships, Ottawa County, Michigan, developed and operated by RWE Clean Energy. Scheduled to begin operations soon, this state-of-the-art solar farm is designed to generate enough electricity to power over 34,057 American homes. As part of RWE’s commitment to domestic energy addition, Silver Maple Solar represents a significant economic investment, not only advancing energy reliability and independence for the region but also supporting American-made innovation and local prosperity.

The project is currently in its mid-stage development phase. RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the facility's performance 24/7, ensuring consistent, safe, and reliable energy supply for West Michigan. An experienced onsite operations team will be on standby to address any issues swiftly.

Delivering on the RWE vision, Silver Maple Solar adds to our rapidly growing U.S. portfolio of clean energy assets—meeting rising energy needs from growing American industry, manufacturing, and broad-based electrification. The project is tailored to complement existing land uses, protect local wildlife, and foster community partnerships, providing not just clean, reliable power but a lasting foundation for economic growth and stability in the region.

Status: In development

Site location

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Permitting Timeline

1 Environmental Surveys and Local Outreach
2025 2026 2027 2028

Facts & figures

00 MW

generation capacity, enough to power 34,057 homes

Over $ 00 Million

in property taxes anticipated over the lifetime of the project

Over $ 00 Million

for the school district allocation point

00 +

Construction Jobs Created

00 Million

gallons of water conserved each year

$ 00 Million

in annual public health savings due to reduced pollution.

Project Benefits

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Economic Growth & Local Investment

Silver Maple Solar brings transformative investment to Ottawa County, supporting local schools and infrastructure; Also supporting local landowners through lease payments. By generating over $30 million in property taxes and contributing over $15 million directly to education, the project helps fund essential community services while creating hundreds of construction and skilled operations jobs based right in the heart of Michigan.

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Economic Growth & Local Investment
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American-Made Innovation & Energy Independence

As part of RWE’s U.S. operations, Silver Maple Solar boosts American energy independence by delivering clean power produced, maintained, and managed domestically. This project uses proven, safe materials and technology—resulting in energy addition that supports the resilience of the national grid and reduces reliance on foreign sources.

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American-Made Innovation & Energy Independence
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Reliable Power, Healthy Communities

With advanced monitoring and rapid-response teams, Silver Maple Solar ensures dependable power for West Michigan. The project’s water-free electricity generation helps conserve 219 million gallons annually, and its significant air quality improvements generate an estimated $7.3 million in public health savings every year, benefitting the entire community.

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Reliable Power, Healthy Communities

Stronger Electric Grid

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Building a More Reliable, Resilient Grid for Michigan

Silver Maple Solar is more than a solar energy facility—it is a strategic upgrade to the region’s energy infrastructure. By integrating 200 MW of dependable clean energy into Michigan’s grid, Silver Maple Solar helps meet rapidly rising demand from homes, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The facility’s grid addition increases overall reliability, stabilizing energy prices for local consumers while supporting the shift toward American-made energy independence. With RWE’s remote operations and onsite support, the grid remains secure, efficient, and capable of handling tomorrow’s challenges—with added layers of redundancy that protect against outages or disruptions. Every kilowatt produced strengthens not only Ottawa County’s energy supply but the backbone of American industry and daily life.

Protecting the Environment and the Community

Silver Maple Solar will be designed to complement existing agricultural land uses, protect the soil, and avoid negative impacts to wildlife. Solar farms produce electricity without generating any pollution, resulting in cleaner air and water when compared to traditional power plants. 

Comprehensive studies are required as part of the planning and permitting process to protect public safety and the environment. Silver Maple Solar will be virtually silent outside the fence line, while set-backs and vegetative screening will minimize viewshed impacts. Solar panels are designed to minimize glare and are often installed at major airports across the world.

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Silver Maple Solar will use silicon-based PV panels, which are made of safe, solid-state, well-tested materials commonly used in building and household products. To maximize solar energy production and use the project land as efficiently as possible, Silver Maple Solar will have bifacial solar panels (silicon on both sides of the panel to capture extra sunlight) and the panels will be mounted to a tracking system that follows the sun from east to west during the day. The panels are fully sealed and extremely durable, preventing trace metals from escaping into the surrounding soil. PV solar panels are so safe that millions of families across the U.S. have put solar panels on their homes and literally sleep beneath them. 

RWE’s advanced remote operations center will monitor the panels 24/7, 365 days a year, while the onsite operations team will be available to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency.

At the end of Silver Maple’s useful life, equipment will be removed, and the land will be returned to its original agricultural use.

RWE will plant a seed mix of native, pollinator-friendly grasses, which will stabilize soil and improve environmental diversity during the project lifetime.

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