LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Dozens of township and local municipalities are suing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s three-person Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), claiming it erodes local control for so-called green energy projects.
The lawsuit asserts the MPSC is trying to redefine the terms of Public Act 233, which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed last November. It gave powers to the state to oversee utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. Whitmer wants the state to transition to 100% clean energy by 2040.
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The new rules go into effect on Nov. 29 and opponents say the MPSC will ignore local zoning regulations. The main sticking point in the lawsuit stems from the term “hybrid facilities.” Those projects would require state approval.
Developers first must seek authority from local governments to pursue a project. If a local regulator or government denies a developer’s project request, the developer can bypass the community and ask the MPSC for a permit.
The MPSC will grant approval for the developer’s project if it views a local denial as unreasonable.
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