Some legislative Democrats have called for giving state regulators more say over land-use decisions to advance their green energy goals. One proposal involves establishing renewable energy power zones that could expedite industrial-scale wind and solar development by transferring zoning authority from local governments. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who would have to sign any legislation into law, must decide whether she will stand by her past advocacy of local officials or favor a greater role for the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Four House bills, HB 5120-5123, would preempt local governments, which have used zoning ordinances to have a say over whether and where industrial-scale wind or solar power developments are constructed. Local governments and others could still share input at MPSC meetings. Still, under the proposed renewable energy power zone framework, state regulators would have final decision-making authority, according to an analysis by the House Fiscal Agency.

The governor suggested in a press release that she supports giving the MPSC broader oversight in siting decisions tied to renewable energy power zones. “To hit our clean energy goals, the Michigan Public Service Commission needs more tools,” Whitmer said Aug. 30.

The governor has, in the past, praised local governments and rejected efforts to restrict their power.

In 2021, Whitmer said she would not enforce a measure in the budget that would have prohibited local and state health officials from imposing mask mandates on children under 18, according to Chalkbeat Detroit.

This article is an excerpt from Michigan Capitol Confidential, the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.