Construction progress on Coldwater Solar will accelerate this month as pile installation wraps up and racking and module deliveries continue. Here's a quick rundown on recent progress and upcoming activities: Construction Progress Update Pile Installation: Over 34,000 piles have been installed across the site and the work is about 70% complete. The remaining piles will be installed throughout the month of April. Thank you for your patience during this process. You may have noticed some yellow sleeves being installed around the steel piles across the project. These sleeves help prevent mechanical stress from "frost heave", when the soil moves during the freeze/thaw cycle in the spring and fall. This important piece helps avoid stress on the racking and modules during those seasonal temperature changes. Racking & Module Delivery: Components for our racking/tracking system as well as solar modules themselves are being delivered throughout the site. You may notice components being staged at one of several temporary laydown yards throughout the site. This is to cut down on truck traffic and ensure components are staged where they will be needed. About 75% of our racking system has been delivered and over 15% of the solar modules have been delivered as of today. Landscaping Plan: We've been working with landowners and neighbors to finalize our landscaping screening plan along mutual property lines. Trees and shrubs associated with the plan will be planted this fall. Upcoming Activities Here’s what you can expect in the months ahead: Pile Installation Completion: Weather permitting, we are on track to complete pile installation by May. Ongoing Panel Deliveries: Delivery of the solar panels themselves will continue throughout the month, so expect an increase in truck traffic along the primary delivery route on Fenn Road and Angola Road near I-69 during this process. Construction Milestones: The Barton Malow team is on schedule and we are targeting substantial completion by the end of September or early October in preparation for commencing operations by the end of the year.

Spring is just around the corner and construction on Coldwater Solar will accelerate as the ground thaws and the temperatures climb. You are likely well aware of some of the construction activities taking place, such as pile installation, but we'll provide a quick overview of progress in the past month and what lies ahead below: Construction Progress Update Pile Installation: With over 20,000 piles delivered on site, the construction team has been laying out the piles prior to install. Once pile locations are set, install crews follow to pre-drill pile locations where needed and then install. Over 6,000 piles have been installed so farm, with just over 40,000 remaining. We know this is one of the more disruptive parts of construction and appreciate your patience as we work to complete the process as quickly and safely as possible. Main Power Transformer Delivery: Last month we received the main power transformer for the project substation (pictured above). These impressive pieces of machinery help "step up" the voltage from the project so that it can be transmitted on the 138 KV line running through the project area. Did you know that Coldwater Solar funded over $7 million in upgrades to the local transmission system? This included rebuilding the entire line section with Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) to improve function and reliability. Underground Collection Line: The team is over 50% complete on the installation of underground collection line throughout the site. Racking System: We have begun taking deliveries of the panel racking and tracking system, which enable the panels to track the sun throughout the day and maximize power generation. Upcoming ActivitiesHere’s what you can expect in the months ahead: Pile Installation: Installation will continue during daytime construction hours, 7:00am-6:00pm M-F and occasionally Saturdays based on weather and site conditions. Work continues on arrays 1-4, located in Coldwater Township, and will proceed south through the site in the coming weeks. Multiple pile crews are operating to complete this task as quickly as possible, taking into account weather conditions as the ground thaws. Panel Deliveries: Delivery of the solar panels themselves, which will involve an increase in truck traffic to the site, is on track to begin in April. Operations Timeline: The is on schedule and expected to reach mechanical completion yet this year and commence operations in late 2025 or early 2026. As we have additional news, we'll continue sharing them with you in these monthly updates. We’re excited to complete construction in the next year and begin operating the project, delivering clean energy to the electric grid and delivering significant community benefits to Coldwater and Ovid Townships.

Moving into the first full week of February, construction activity at Coldwater Solar is slated to ramp up with pile installation starting this month, panel delivery in the coming months, and full installation of the project starting in the late spring and continuing throughout the summer. Here's a quick look at our latest updates and what’s ahead: Construction Progress Update Here are some recent highlights: Underground Collection Line: Installation of underground collection line continues throughout the site. This includes trenching, laying, and backfilling, as well as drain tile repair and rerouting as required based on the site layout. Inverter Pile Installation: You may have noticed or heard crews out installing the initial piles for our inverter pads. The inverters convert the DC power generated by the panels to AC power, which travels on the transmission line and is used in all of our homes. Each Inverter has 10 piles and the pile crew has been working relatively quickly throughout the site over the next few weeks to complete this task. Pile Layout: Crews are also starting to position piles throughout the site that will be driven into the ground for mounting of our tracking system and eventually the panels themselves. Crews positioning inverter piles for installation Upcoming Activities Here’s what you can expect in the months ahead: Pile Installation: Full pile installation throughout the project site is expected to begin either the week of February 17th or the 24th. This will be the most noticeable part of construction, as crews drive piles into the ground to support the racking system for the panels. This work creates noise and the sound can travel, so we apologize in advance for the disruption. Installation will occur during daytime construction hours, 7:00am-6:00pm M-F and occasionally Saturdays based on weather and site conditions. Work will start with Region 1, which is located between Garfield and Stickney Roads, along Sanford Road in Coldwater Township, and proceed south throughout the site. Multiple pile crews may be operating at the same time to complete this task as quickly as possible. Panel Deliveries: Delivery of the solar panels themselves, which will involve an increase in truck traffic to the site, is expected to begin in April. Operations Timeline: The project remains on track for mechanical completion by the end of 2025 and operations commencing in late 2025 or early 2026. As we have additional news, we'll continue sharing them with you in these monthly updates. We’re excited to complete construction in the next year and begin operating the project, delivering clean energy to the electric grid and delivering significant community benefits to Coldwater and Ovid Townships.

As we welcome 2025, the Coldwater Solar team would like to thank you for your continued patience and consideration shown to our construction team. We're looking forward to another productive year of progress and collaboration with you. Here's a look at our recent updates and what’s ahead: Construction Progress Update Here are some recent highlights: Fence Installation: The perimeter fencing has been fully installed, ensuring construction can proceed safely and securely. Substation Work: Construction of the substation is progressing on schedule, with the primary foundation poured and other preparations continuing smoothly ahead of main power transformer and other equipment deliveries later this year. Workforce Milestone: Over 150 workers have contributed nearly 50,000 hours of effort on-site, helping drive the project forward efficiently and safely. Upcoming Activities Here’s what you can expect in the months ahead: Electrical Work: Trenching, installation, and backfill for underground collection lines will continue through the winter. Pile Deliveries: We've received our first steel pile deliveries in preparation for pile installation, which is expected to begin between February and March. Solar Panel Deliveries: These will follow by April, with installation to take place throughout the summer. Operations Estimate: The project remains on track for mechanical completion by the end of 2025 and operations commencing in late 2025 or early 2026.

Happy Holidays from the Coldwater Solar Team! As the year draws to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for your patience and support through the construction process. We’re excited to share the latest updates as we continue making steady progress on Coldwater Solar. Construction Progress UpdateHere are some highlights of our recent progress:Fence Installation: Fence posts and fabric installation have been installed across the site, improving site security and organization. Roughly 75% of the fencing has been installed thus far.Substation Work: Foundation work is progressing, including the excavation of the substation pad and initial concrete pours.Array Seeding and Soil Stabilization:Our team has completed the installation of erosion prevention measures such as silt fencing and detention basins. Following grading efforts, we have planted both temporary cover crops (outside fence) and permanent array seed mixes throughout the entire site. Areas disturbed during construction will be re-seeded during site restoration activities once construction is completed.Underground Cabling: Installation of DC cables in multiple sections is underway, ensuring efficient energy flow across the site.Access Roads: Nearly all access roads have been installed providing safe and reliable access for equipment and personnel. Upcoming ActivitiesLooking ahead, here’s what you can expect in the coming weeks:Tree Trimming: We'll wrap up tree trimming in the Southwest part of the project to prepare for further construction activities.Fence Completion: Ongoing work on fence fabric installation and final touch-ups across multiple areas.Electrical Work: Further underground DC cabling and trench shading to advance the electrical system’s progress. Questions or Feedback?We’re proud to be part of this community and are dedicated to minimizing disruptions as we advance the project. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at coldwatersolar.com/complaint or call 1-866-370-9546.Thank you for your continued patience and support. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the new year. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and joyful holiday season!

We're pleased to report that construction on the Coldwater Solar project is well underway. Here's a brief overview of our recent progress: The main laydown yard at the corner of Fenn and Sanford is nearly complete, with stone laid, electrical installed, and job trailers being set up. Other site preparation activities are well underway, including limited site grading and construction pre-seeding. Silt fence installation has been completed as an erosion control measure and perimeter fencing will be installed over the coming weeks. Work has commenced on array access roads and the substation area. As we move forward, you may notice increased activity around the project site. Rest assured, we're working diligently to minimize any disruptions to the community while making steady progress on this important clean energy project.

This is an exciting time for Coldwater Solar. This summer, agreements were approved by Coldwater and Ovid Townships to guarantee specific levels of tax revenue to support local schools, county services, and the townships themselves. In addition to benefiting from direct tax revenue from Coldwater Solar, both townships are also applying to the State of Michigan’s Renewable Ready Communities grant program, which could provide up to $750,000 in funding directly to the townships ($5,000 per MW) to advance community priorities. In recent weeks, you may have noticed some activity around the project site as we move toward construction. Properties that will host solar panels have been mowed in preparation for site preparation and seeding. Equipment deliveries and job trailer staging at the project construction laydown yard (corner of Sanford and Fenn roads) will start the week of September 3rd and continue in the coming weeks. To keep you informed as we prepare for the work ahead, we want to ensure that you know how to find construction updates and know how to contact us if any issues arise during construction. We hope you can join us for our preconstruction open house at Lockwood Community Church on September 17 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (more details below) This will be a great opportunity to meet our construction team, ask questions about the project, and learn what you should expect moving forward. In this newsletter, we are also excited to share details about our construction schedule, highlight the project’s community benefits, and provide information on how to contact Coldwater Solar if you have any concerns during construction. Continue reading

Apex Clean Energy is pleased to award a new round of funding through the Coldwater Solar Community Grant Program. The program supports organizations across Branch County working to build safe and healthy communities, foster economic development, support environmental sustainability, and promote education. Since its launch in 2021, the program has now awarded over $50,000 in funding to more than twenty different community organizations throughout the Coldwater area. Nationally, Apex has awarded over $4 million in community grant funds to nonprofit organizations through the program. Ten local organizations received funding during this grant cycle, including • Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes • Coldwater Fire Department • Branch District Library • Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence • Coldwater Area Chamber of Commerce • Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Foundation • Little River Railroad • Quincy Baseball Softball Association • Run Branch County • Lakeland Fire Department Continue reading