COMMUNITIES IN MICHIGAN ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST RENEWABLE ENERGY.

NEARLY 80 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE HAVE FILED A LEGAL CHALLENGE AGAINST MICHIGAN’S PERMITTING PROCESS FOR LARGE-SCALE SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY FACILITIES.

THEY ARGUE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION EXCEEDED THE POWERS GRANTED TO IT BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE-

UNLAWFULLY REDEFINING TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH HOW PERMITS ARE ISSUED FOR THESE TYPES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

DOING SO IN WAYS THAT GIVE MORE AUTHORITY TO THE COMMISSION, WHILE TAKING POWER AWAY FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

THIS DEBATE COMES AFTER A SERIES OF BILLS SIGNED IN 20-23 BY MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER.

THE LEGISLATION WAS INTENDED TO BE A WAY FOR THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT CAME TO SOME SPECIFICS RELATED TO THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.

THE COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO REVIEW WIND AND SOLAR DEVELOPMENT AND SET STANDARDS ON VARIOUS ZONING REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE FACILITIES.

THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WAS GOING TO BE LEFT FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO DECIDE.

HOWEVER, LAWYERS FOR THE MUNICIPALITIES FILING SUIT SAY WHAT HAS NOW HAPPENED IS A MATTER OF INCONSISTENT INTERPRETATIONS.

CLAIMING THE COMMISSION IS ADOPTING A POLICY THAT TAKES AWAY THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES’ RIGHT TO EVEN SAY WHERE IN THE TOWNSHIP A WIND OR SOLAR ENERGY FACILITY CAN BE PLACED.

ONE OFFICIAL FROM A COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THIS LITIGATION SAYS ITS NOT ABOUT THESE TOWNS, CITIES, VILLAGES AND COUNTIES BEING AGAINST RENEWABLE ENERGY.

BUT RATHER THIS FIGHT IS ABOUT KEEPING THOSE DECISIONS AT A LOCAL LEVEL.

MEANWHILE, THE COMMISSION HAS YET TO ISSUE A STATEMENT ON THE MATTER-

BUT WILL HOLD A MEETING THIS WEEK WHERE PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE HEARD.

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