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Renewable energy local zoning bill before Michigan House

Legislation to return zoning control of renewable energy projects to the local level is moving to the full Michigan House after passing out of committee on a party-line vote.

Representative and Thumb-area farmer Greg Alexander says his bills support communities being able to decide how to site large-scale energy projects.

“I’m not opposed to wind and solar program developments when they’re supported by the communities who have to live with them,” he testified. “This is about opposing government overreach and takeover.”

The Michigan Public Service Commission currently holds permit power over large-scale projects after a 2023 siting law was passed by the Democratic controlled legislature. More than 70 townships and seven counties are challenging the measure in a lawsuit that claims the commission is overstepping its authority.

Michigan Farm Bureau Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch spoke in favor of the legislation during the recent energy committee hearing.

“It’s about ultimately who makes the decision on where these projects should go and how they should be cited,” he says. “While our members may differ on individual projects, whether they’re good or bad, I think one thing our members do overwhelmingly support is who should decide.”

Sanilac County farmer Patti Shin urged lawmakers to give the current regulations a chance.

“Twenty-four of our 26 farm families in our township are supportive of this project,” she shared. “Property rights are a fundamental freedom afforded by the Constitution and need to be protected. These bills erode that principle.”

A majority of testimonies during the 90-minute hearing were in support of the bills and stressed the need to protect the farm economy, land prices, and public health.