Our Home, Our Voice, Inc. Continues to Advocate for Restoring Local Control
CONTACT: Kevon Martis 517-403-2438 ourhomeourvoiceinc@gmail.com
DEERFIELD, Mich. – Municipal clients of Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC, this week announced their plan to challenge the Michigan Public Service Commission's (MPSC) recent Order regarding Public Act 233 of 2023 (PA 233). The lawsuit stems from the MPSC’s interpretation of local control over renewable energy projects which ultimately strips away all control from the local communities. Municipalities and their legal counsel argue the MSPC has overstepped their authority and undermined local governance.
The 168-page Order from the MPSC has raised concerns among local municipalities regarding their interpretation of clauses within PA 233. One of great concern is its definition of a Compatible Renewable Energy Ordinance (CREO) among others. Local governments argue that the order restricts their ability to set zoning rules not blocked by PA 233 and that the new definition of "affected local unit," which only includes those with zoning authority, goes against the clear wording of the law.
Kevon Martis, spokesman for Our Home, Our Voice has weighed in, stating, “Our Home, Our Voice remains committed to fighting for and restoring local control of utility-scale renewable energy projects. As PA 233 begins to take effect, the harm to rural communities and its impact on the environment cannot be overstated. Consider Palmyra Township in Lenawee County, ESA Solar is requesting 6,000 acres of some of the Midwest's finest farm ground to be converted into a utility-scale solar power district. That's nearly 25% of all the land in the township. In fact, in the eastern end of Lenawee County alone, somewhere between 20 and 30,000 acres of farm ground will be converted to intermittent power generation. Similar amounts of electricity could easily produce not only a few hundred acres of ground if the state were pursuing small modular nuclear reactors which in addition to the benefit of a small land-use footprint, also produce highly valuable, clean, dispatchable power on a round-the-clock basis.”
Martis continued, “It is clear the MPSC has overstepped beyond their authority. Private citizens from around the state have gathered together to oppose PA 233. Now this matter will go before the courts. We now encourage Michigan’s local units of government to pick up the fight where we have left off.”
Our Home, Our Voice Inc., remains committed to ensuring that decisions impacting communities are made by the people who best understand their unique needs and challenges. They ask and encourage local governments across the state to join the legal appeal to restore local control in Michigan. It will be filed in the Michigan Court of Appeals before the November 8, 2024 deadline.
Our Home, Our Voice Inc., is a grassroots coalition of county and township officials as well as community organizers throughout Michigan who advocate maintaining local control of land use by promoting reasonable regulation in their widely diverse communities. The organization believes an important tool for protecting their home from special interests is the continued ability to enact and maintain local land use regulations. The coalition has active supporters in 45 counties across the state.
