Michigan has adopted one of the most aggressive clean energy standards in the country.
Success will depend on siting reform, which under the new bills gives final say to the State Level Michigan Public Service Commission.
But the bills don’t take effect for a year, so for now, local boards and planning commissions still hold sway.
Many of those bodies now understand that they can no longer pass illegal siting ordinances with “poison pill” clauses to kill projects, something that has been happening a lot as hordes of Facebook frenzied conspiracist yahoos have disrupted meetings, harassed and physically threatened board members and clean energy supporters.
Presque Isle County Planning Commission was the first such meeting I’ve been to since the passage of the legislation, and, although a number of naysayers did speak up, the board clearly understood what their responsibility was.
Above, Ryan Charney of IBEW speaks in favor of solar development, November 9, 2023, at Belknap Township Hall near Rogers City, MI.
Below, Farmer Ron Garrett compares solar productivity to Ethanol.
The PC voted 7 to 1 in favor of approving the Special Land Use permit for the solar facility, the most important permit for the project.
Planning Commission member Fran Brink said it was a difficult decision and she voted in favor of granting the special-use permit based on the responsibility of the commission. She said DTE complied with everything it needed to.
“All I can say is I listened to everyone and I’m politically neutral, unlike some who are trying to make it political,” she said. “This is a tough job and this was a tough decision.”
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Mike Mahler, Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce economic development director, said the vote to approve the permit may have been last week, but, under the surface, DTE has been working with economic development officials and local government leaders for about two years.
He said it is rare that a development project of that magnitude gets the green light in Northeast Michigan and he believes it will help provide good-paying jobs and boost the local economy, especially for businesses in Presque Isle County.
Mahler said the money the townships and county will receive from a payment in lieu of taxes from the company to the local governments will also help those local governments offer more services and provide some relief to their tight budgets.
“You saw a school bond millage proposal fail a couple weeks ago, and I understand people don’t want to pay any more in taxes,” Mahler said. “The only way to fix that is to increase the tax roll, and this will do that. They came to me about two years ago and it has been in the works for a long time and I think there will be a tremendous benefit for local small businesses.”
