Hagar Township officials are putting the brakes on large-scale solar and wind farm installations.

At a special meeting Wednesday night, trustees unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on the issuance of permits, licenses, or approvals for all renewable energy facilities covered by Michigan state law PA 233. That act regulates any energy-generating or distribution facilities with large capacity wind or solar installations.

Supervisor Izzy DiMaggio said officials became aware of recent interest in leasing about 90 acres of township property off Lynch Road for renewable energy facilities, so they took quick action.

“The moratorium then gives our planning commission an opportunity to look into an ordinance to regulate these types of activities. I don’t know that we can totally abolish it, but we can certainly restrict it. Say, ‘industrial zoned areas’ or something like that.”

The one-year moratorium is to give the township’s planning commission time to draft permanent restrictions. Under state law, the governor’s Michigan Public Service Commission can override a local authority’s wishes on where to allow such installations.

DiMaggio said the moratorium and pending ordinance puts a stake in the ground for Hagar Township that they want to protect homeowners and farmers from such incursions. He encouraged other townships and Berrien County, as a whole, to approve similar restrictions.