RENEWABLE ENERGY
There are bills currently in the House (HB5120-5123) and Senate (585-588) pre-empting local authority for utility scale wind and solar facilities and shifting authority to the Michigan Public Service Commission. Oneida Charter Township Board of Trustees, Planning Commission and Michigan Township Association all oppose these bills and support local authority for solar and wind energy regulations. Please contact your State Representatives and share you opinions.
House District 76
Angela Witwer
angelawitwer@house.mi.gov
517-373-0822
House District 77
Emily Dievendorf
emilydievendorf@house.mi.gov
517-373-2277
State Senate District 21
Sarah Anthony
sensanthony@senate.michigan.gov
517-373-6960
What Does the Proposed Legislation Do?
- Renewable energy facility producers can obtain a certificate from the State Public Service Commission (PSC) to permit the construction of such facilities with no local regulations.
- If the PSC issues a certificate, all existing and future local regulation is preempted.
- The legislation is currently applicable to facilities with a nameplate capacity of 100 megawatts or greater. These are utility scale projects with a significant local footprint.
- The proposed legislation outlines requirements for the certificate application, though the Public Service Commission would have discretion over sufficiency to award a certificate.
- Many typical zoning requirements are in the proposed legislation, including regulations for setbacks, noise levels, and buffering; these are “one-size-fits-all” further emphasizing the impact to local control.
- Providers are required to consult with relevant state and federal agencies and regulations.
- The provider or producer is permitted to designate information received from a third party and submitted to the Commission as confidential and if subject to a FOIA request, the Commission would determine whether to release information.
- The proposed legislation also likely prohibits local regulation of operation or maintenance.
- Finally, note that the producer or provider of these renewable energy projects are not necessarily public utilities but could include private, for-profit companies.
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ITC-Electric Transmission Infrastructure Project:
Nelson Road to Oneida
See our NEWS tab for more information
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PROPERTY LOSS FROM THE RECENT STORM
If you had property loss from the recent storm that you do not intend to replace before the end of year, please inform the assessor so it can be taken off the roll for next year.
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FREE SMOKE DETECTORS are available at the Grand Ledge Emergency Service Authority. Call the Fire Dept at 517-627-1157 for free 10-year battery life operated smoke detectors. Free installation available.