Committee passes legislation to let state seize control of local energy siting

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Previous Article: LEGISLATION WOULD ‘PULL THE PLUG’ ON LOCAL CONTROL OF SOLAR/WIND PROJECT PLACEMENT

The House Energy, Communications and Technology Committee on Wednesday passed legislation that would take away local siting control for commercial wind, solar and energy storage projects and transfer it to the Michigan Public Service Commission. 

Opposed by Michigan Farm Bureau, each piece of the four-bill package passed 9-7 in committee in a party-line vote.

Voting yes: Reps. Scott (D-Detroit), Andrews (D-St. Joseph), Coleman (D-Westland), Neeley (D-Flint), Byrnes (D-Dearborn), Churches (D-Wyandotte), Hill (D-Marquette), MacDonell (D-Troy) and McFall (D-Hazel Park). 

Voting no: Reps. Outman (R-Six Lakes), Aragona (R-Clinton Twp), BeGole (R-Antrim Twp), Greene (R-Richmond), Prestin (R-Cedar River), Schmaltz (R-Jackson), and Wendzel (R-Watervliet). 

Rep. Whitsett (D-Detroit) declined to vote.

House Bills 512051215122 and 5123 now advance to the full House for consideration where party vote margins are slim: 56 Democrats and 54 Republicans. 

More than 1,700 local county Farm Bureau members and supporters from across the state have sent more than 3,400 messages to state representatives and senators voicing their concern with the legislation.

โ€œWeโ€™re disappointed in the outcome of the committee hearing,โ€ said MFB Legislative Counsel Andrew Vermeesch.

โ€œItโ€™s critical we continue to voice our opposition and protect the ability of local governments to make decisions regarding wind, solar and energy storage projects.

โ€œSimply put, they understand their communities better than any state-governed board ever will.โ€ 

Send a prewritten or personalized message yourself from https://bit.ly/MIFBenergy or text โ€˜MIENERGYโ€™ to 52886.

Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) also opposes the legislation and testified before the committee Wednesday. 

โ€œSome of you may think of zoning as a function of townships or cities, but we have 20 counties in Michigan that are currently zoning countywide for renewable energy facilities,โ€ said Madeline Fata, governmental affairs associate for MAC. 

โ€œThose counties have dedicated time and resources and have collaborated with their constituents and other local leaders to develop and implement their plans โ€” it’s our intent today to protect the thoughtful work of our members.โ€ 

She went on to share concerns similar to those voiced by the Michigan Townships Association and MFB.

โ€œWe cannot continue to revisit one-size-fits-all methods,โ€ Fata said. โ€œEach community has different preferences for setbacks, berms, trees, pollinators, decibel levels, safety plans, etcetera. 

โ€œโ€ฆSome (county ordinances) are more, some are less restrictive than what is proposed in this legislation, but each is tailored to the wants and needs of that specific community.โ€ 

She closed by stating itโ€™s not MACโ€™s goal to stand in the way of renewables, but that local voices cannot be sacrificed at the expense of rapid industry growth.

Legislation mirroring the House bills was introduced in Senate Bills 585-588 last week, but itโ€™s unclear if or when the Senate Energy and Environment Committee will consider the bills. 

By Nicole Sevrey, Michigan Farm Bureau

Read Full Article on MichFB.com

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