Sturgis-Coldwater News

On Wednesday, the Michigan House of Representatives approved a plan aimed at restoring local control over wind and solar farm siting decisions, reversing a previous state mandate. State Representative Jennifer Wortz, a Republican from Quincy, announced that House Bills 4027 and 4028 would repeal the 2023 laws that allowed the Michigan Public Service Commission to unilaterally approve large-scale energy projects, overriding local community zoning.

"A few years ago, Democrat politicians in Lansing passed ridiculous green energy mandates and stripped away local control," said Wortz. "Three unelected state bureaucrats in Lansing shouldn’t get to rubber-stamp huge wind and solar farms in our communities. Michigan should put those decisions back in the hands of local residents. That’s what the people I serve in Hillsdale County, Branch County, and Hudson want. And that’s what people in communities across Michigan want. Citizens deserve to have their voices heard and respected."

The 2023 energy laws were part of an overhaul in Michigan, which included a mandate for 100% "clean" energy by 2040. This would involve shutting down existing natural gas power plants and, according to one study, could result in doubled monthly power bills. With about 17,000 acres currently occupied by wind and solar operations in Michigan, further expansion is expected to affect rural areas disproportionately. Wortz emphasized the importance of local control, stating it as a crucial step in addressing the issue.

“Michigan families already pay a lot for their electricity,” stated Wortz. “Democrats’ green energy mandates are going to make monthly bills even more expensive. We should reverse these mandates and prevent unnecessary cost hikes, but let’s start by repealing the unpopular laws that let state bureaucrats force windmills and solar farms into rural communities.”

The bills now proceed to the Senate for consideration.