Visiting public health official urges county oversight of utility‑scale solar, citing health complaints

Dr. Catherine Albright, a member of the St. Clair County Community Mental Health Authority speaking in a private capacity, traveled to the Sanilac County meeting to warn about health problems she said have emerged around a large solar installation. She said her research over five months and testimony collected at a public hearing in her county showed reports of headaches, tinnitus and other symptoms linked to inverter noise, and she urged Sanilac County to examine and possibly adopt similar regulatory language. “I am not opposed to solar, per se. I am opposed to solar that is installed incorrectly,” Albright said.

Albright described a case she had investigated where houses were surrounded by solar fields and reported persistent noise; she said measurements she shared with an acoustic consultant associated with MIT recorded inverter noise levels she found alarming and outside limits common in other states. Health Officer Brian Wilkie acknowledged the presentations and told the board public health staff would review St. Clair County’s ordinance language and the technical materials Albright provided. Board members discussed the challenge of regulating existing nonconforming facilities and agreed staff and planning commissioners would coordinate on next steps and draft language if appropriate.

Albright left the board with written materials and offered a PowerPoint and additional data to county staff; health staff said they would consult subject‑matter experts, review national examples (Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts were cited), and consider whether a public‑health approach or zoning language would be the most effective mechanism.