Speaker Pro Tem Rachelle Smit, R-Martin, on Tuesday announced her support for legislation that would restore local siting control for large-scale wind and solar projects. Currently, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) can approve huge renewable energy projects in communities throughout the state without meaningful input from local officials. The MPSC received the authority as part of sweeping green energy mandates passed in 2023.

“There is no one better suited to make decisions for a community than the people elected from within that same community,” said Smit, who served as Martin Township Clerk for seven years. “Local control being stripped away was a perversion of the principles that make up local governments. Radical Democrats stripped a core function of local government and gifted it to a state board handcrafted by our left-wing governor. Republicans called foul then, and we’ve worked to reverse that abuse of legislative power ever since. The passage of these bills is a wonderful first step to restoring the local control that should’ve never been taken away in the first place.”

The MPSC is made up of three unelected bureaucrats, all of whom are appointed by the governor and serve six-year terms. Currently, the entire MPSC has been appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The plan, House Bills 4027 and 4028, would re-establish local control for large-scale renewable energy projects and take the authority away from career bureaucrats in Lansing.

The legislation passed the House Energy Committee and now moves to the House floor for further consideration.

###