LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan House is expected to discuss bills amending energy mandates in the state, and bills pertaining to who can control which projects are accepted in local counties. 

House Bills 4759 through 4761 would force new energy mandates and limits for the state to fulfill, including an eventual 100% carbon-free state. 

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HB 4759 in particular would redefine “renewable energy source” to exclude “petroleum, nuclear fuel, natural gas, coal, hydrogen, solid waste, biofuel,” and only accept renewable energy resources that come from the “sun or from thermal inertia of the earth and minimizes the output of toxic material in the conversion of the energy.” The bill removes biomass as an option but allows for “solar and solar thermal energy, wind energy, kinetic energy of moving water.” 

Ahead of the vote, Representative Jaime Greene (R-Richmond) shared on social media her concern for the bills, some other opponents have deemed Michigan’s Green New Deal. 

“You cannot change the ENTIRE landscape of energy in Michigan and only offer ONE question per legislator,” she said on X (formerly Twitter).  

Rep. Greene has also written expressing her opposition to the bills, particularly their limits on nuclear power and the potential use of biomass. 

“Nuclear energy stands as an established, reliable source of substantial power, bolstering grid resilience and minimizing emissions,” she wrote. “Beyond traditional nuclear plants, advances in micro-nuclear technology offer safer, adaptable reactors for localized energy generation.  Biomass fuels, hailing from agricultural leftovers, wood waste, and even landfill refuse, furnish Michigan with a valuable resource. By tapping into biomass, we decrease reliance on fossil fuels, bolster local economies, and open doors to employment, particularly in rural settings.”

Similarly, advocates of another package of bills, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, would allocate control to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for accepting new projects. 

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“Let’s permit clean energy projects through the MPSC—just like all other sources of energy,” Gov. Whitmer said, “This ensures local perspectives are reflected in the planning process while also allowing us to move faster on installation.”

Some of those who oppose the legislation include the Michigan Farm Bureau, which provided constituents with a letter to send to their legislators, appealing to the idea of a community knowing its own people and needs best. 

“Because of this I’m asking you to oppose House Bills 5120-5123 and Senate Bills 585-588, which would eliminate local zoning control for commercial wind and solar projects and transfer it to the Michigan Public Service Commission,” the letter said. “I stand with Michigan Farm Bureau and their member-developed and approved policy that calls for local governments to establish zoning for renewable energy. State-level regulators simply will not fully understand the diversity and intricacies of our local townships.” 

The letter reiterated that local officials were best suited for zoning control of commercial energy projects, in part due to accountability to community members. 

“Local government officials from Michigan’s 1,240 townships are responsible for making decisions that ensure a viable future for their community members,” the letter said. “They solicit input and have a deep understanding of the area’s geographic landscape, business, and social makeup. And they are best positioned to evaluate suitable locations for renewable energy projects and consider other variables in ways that state level authorities cannot.” 

Some of the state’s highest invested projects, including the Ford BlueOval Battery Park plant in Marshall and the Gotion Electric Vehicle Battery Plant in Big Rapids have received local public backlash, contributing to delays.