State Rep. John Roth today encouraged public participation in two upcoming meetings to consider rule implementation for a new state law that strips away local control over large-scale wind and solar projects.

Roth voted against the controversial plan, which gives the Michigan Public Service Commission authority to supersede local zoning ordinances when considering applications for wind and solar farms. The MPSC is made up of three unelected governor appointees, leaving them with no mandate to consider residents’ concerns over perspective wind and solar projects.

“These upcoming meetings may be the last chance for regular people to voice their concerns about the damaging effects of stripping local control,” said Roth, R-Interlochen. “I served in local government before I came to Lansing. The folks best suited to make zoning decisions on things like solar and wind projects are elected from our communities, not three unelected governor appointees downstate that have never been north of Clare.”

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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