Fastening the Future of Solar — Lessons from Michigan’s 125 MW PV Project
Solar Power’s Next Phase
The U.S. solar industry is entering its most ambitious phase yet. With state mandates, federal incentives, and corporate clean energy goals converging, developers are racing to expand utility-scale solar capacity across the country.
A recent example comes from Geronimo Power, which just broke ground on a 125-megawatt solar PV project in Michigan. Once complete, the site will generate enough power to serve tens of thousands of homes—another milestone in the nation’s transition to renewable energy.
But while the headlines focus on megawatts and environmental impact, the real test of success happens at ground level. Projects like this rely on anchoring systems, structural connections, and precision fasteners to hold thousands of solar panels steady for decades.
The hidden truth behind solar’s bright future? It’s built on the strength of its fasteners.
What the Michigan Project Tells Us
Geronimo Power’s new 125 MW site is more than a renewable milestone—it’s a symbol of scale. Utility-scale solar farms like this cover hundreds of acres and require tens of thousands of panels, supported by miles of steel racking, foundations, and electrical infrastructure.
Each array, junction box, and mounting post is secured with fasteners engineered to resist environmental stress, vibration, and corrosion. In total, these components add up to millions of individual connection points that must perform without fail across decades of exposure.
In short, these aren’t just electrical projects—they’re massive structural undertakings. And fasteners are at the core of every stable, long-lived installation.
Where Fasteners Matter in Utility-Scale Solar
Ground-Mount Foundations
Solar installations begin with their foundations. Anchor rods, rebar systems, and embedded plates secure steel posts to concrete or driven piles, ensuring the array stays level under wind and snow loads.
For Michigan’s variable soil conditions, ASTM F1554 anchor bolts provide a reliable connection that resists pullout and shear forces. In rocky or frost-prone sites, high-strength rebar anchors deliver added security, ensuring foundations remain stable through freeze-thaw cycles.
Panel Racking Systems
Each panel array rests on a network of racking rails and support beams, fastened with ASTM F3125 (A325/A490) structural bolts or stainless steel assemblies designed for corrosion resistance. Proper torque and alignment are critical—not just for installation accuracy, but for ensuring long-term wind resistance and system alignment.
Even minor fastening issues at this stage can lead to misalignment that compounds across thousands of modules, reducing total system efficiency.
Cable Management & Electrical Supports
Solar generation isn’t just about panels—it’s also about power delivery. Threaded rods, clamps, and coated fasteners secure the trays, conduit, and combiner boxes that move current through the array. Using coated or stainless components prevents galvanic corrosion and ensures that electrical infrastructure remains safe and efficient.
Tracking & Mechanical Systems
Many new utility-scale systems use single-axis trackers to follow the sun. These require vibration-resistant fasteners and precision hardware to maintain performance under daily motion and seasonal weather cycles. Hardware failures here can take entire rows offline, so using spec-compliant, high-durability fasteners is critical for uptime and performance.
Material & Environmental Considerations
Utility-scale solar farms face constant environmental exposure—rain, snow, temperature swings, and soil chemistry. Michigan’s harsh winters and humid summers make corrosion resistance a central design priority.
Hot-Dip Galvanized (HDG) Coatings protect structural fasteners against long-term moisture and salt exposure.
Aluminum Zinc Coating Finishes add corrosion protection when galvanizing doesn’t fit the application, while maintaining precise torque control for smaller assemblies.
Stainless Steel or Silicon Bronze Fasteners are used in highly exposed electrical systems or where conductivity and resistance to oxidation are key.
Choosing the right combination of coating and base material ensures every connection point survives for the life of the installation—typically 30 years or more.
Thought leadership insight: Cutting corners on fasteners may not show up in year one, but by year ten, corrosion, loosening, or misalignment can erode the ROI of an entire solar asset.
Fastener Supply & Project Timelines
Large-scale solar projects operate on strict construction schedules. A single delay—caused by waiting on hardware—can idle hundreds of workers and cost developers millions.
Fasteners play a surprisingly central role in maintaining project velocity. Pre-kitting structural hardware, cable management sets, and foundation anchors by array or zone saves crews significant installation time and reduces jobsite error.
Strategic procurement is key. Partnering with a supplier that provides spec-compliant, custom procured fasteners with full traceability reduces the risk of project delays, material shortages, or mismatched components in the field.
When the goal is to commission on time, fastener logistics are part of the critical path.
California Fastener’s Perspective
At California Fastener, we understand the demands of renewable energy projects and the precision required to build reliable solar infrastructure. We support EPCs, contractors, and manufacturers working on projects like Michigan’s with fasteners that meet both performance and compliance standards.
Our solar-ready offering includes:
Anchor bolts, rods, and rebar anchors meeting ASTM F1554 and A615 standards for foundations.
Structural bolts and racking hardware compliant with ASTM F3125 (A325/A490) for large-scale arrays.
Threaded rod, clamps, and coated fasteners for electrical and cable support systems.
Corrosion-resistant finishes including HDG, aluminum zinc coating, and stainless options for harsh climates.
From substructure to switchgear, we help ensure that the solar industry’s boldest projects stay on spec, on schedule, and built to last.
Fastening a Renewable Future
As America builds out its renewable energy capacity, projects like Michigan’s 125 MW PV site remind us that clean energy success isn’t just about panels, inverters, or grid connections. It’s about the foundation hardware that keeps everything aligned, secure, and productive for decades.
Fasteners may not be the focus of press releases, but they’re the backbone of reliable solar infrastructure. When the industry looks back decades from now, the systems still standing will be the ones built with care from the ground up—including every nut, bolt, and anchor.
At California Fastener, we’re proud to support the next generation of renewable energy—one fastening system at a time.
