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Fight to Get Local Control Back
Story updated on 3/9/24. Scroll down to get details on the Washtenaw County Conservation District's seminars regarding Rural Solar.
On a party line vote, Democrats passed Public Act 233 of 2023 last November to strip the ability of local governments to decide where corporations can place utilities like wind turbines, solar farms, and battery storage facilities. Shouldn’t these decisions be decided by our own LOCAL communities?
A ballot initiative is being conducted by Citizens for Local Choice.
The ballot language was passed and you can order petitions online.
The goal is to get 550,000 signatures to make sure there are enough VALID signatures to achieve the threshold of 356,958 valid signatures. Signatures have to be collected by May 29, 2024 to get this initiative on the November 2024 ballot, where it has a very good chance of repealing Part 8 of Public Act 233 of 2023 and restoring local control.
The base of supporters for local control is strongly bipartisan, and often led by farmers and environmentalists. Who supports local control?
- 85% of Democrats
- 91% of Republicans
- 84% of Independents
(Source MICitizensChoice.org)
"One of the things that really upsets me, is that the taxpayers of Columbia Township paid for local zoning updates to address the wind and solar siting projects. This was done expressly for the purpose of making sure private property rights were protected from federal and state initiatives that are looking at only numbers of projects, not the citizens of the state. This is now a wasted expenditure that will be ignored by the Governor in her zeal to turn the state green, not from energy but from decay."
John Calhoun
Columbia Township Treasurer
Jackson County, Michigan
Links of Interest
Learn more at MICitizensChoice.org here...
Frequently Asked Questions can be found here...
How to sign and circulate petition instructions can be found here...
Download a Draft Resolution for your County, Township or Local Group here…
Watch a video on petition guidelines below.
The Washtenaw County Conservation District is offering a seminar titled “Rural Solar, The Good, The Bad and the Trade-offs”
- Are you interested in leasing your land to a solar developer?
- Concerned your neighbor might?
- Interested in diversifying your revenue stream, but worried about farmland turning into solar fields?
Join the WCCD to learn the pros, cons, and misconceptions - good & bad - about rural solar. They will also discuss other options for land preservation and have ample time to address your questions.
Two events have been scheduled:
Monday, March 18th, 2024 at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Freedom Township Hall
11508 E Pleasant Lake Rd, Manchester, MI
MAP
or
Thursday, March 21st, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Bridgewater Township Hall
10990 Clinton Road, Manchester, MI 48158
MAP
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