State Rep. Ken Borton today highlighted two upcoming opportunities for people to weigh in on a new state law that strips away local control over large-scale wind and solar projects.

Borton voted against the controversial plan, which gives the Michigan Public Service Commission the ability to force wind and solar farms on local communities with little regard for residents’ concerns or long-established zoning ordinances.

“Folks from rural Michigan have zero taste for state government telling our local officials when they can and cannot enact zoning laws,” said Borton, R-Gaylord. “Zoning decisions are meant to be made at the lowest level of government because no two municipalities are alike. That’s why we hold elections and vote for people who will best represent our rural communities in township and county government. Thursday, the MPSC will consider the best way to strip away local control. It’s essential that rural Michigan make its voice heard and demand that zoning authority is left with local government.”

While House Bill 5120 – now Public Act 233 of 2023 – was approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor along partisan lines, the MPSC is now holding “engagement sessions” to take public comment regarding the details of how the new law will be implemented.

The first two sessions will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, and Tuesday, March 19. The virtual meetings will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Details on how to join the meetings are available here or at michigan.gov/mpsc under the calendar of events.

According to the MPSC, topics of discussion will include application filing guidelines, application fees, use of consultants, pre-application consultations, the development of compatible renewable energy ordinances, and other issues that arise during the process.

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