State Rep. David Martin today voiced strong opposition to legislation introduced in the House that would strip control away from local communities concerning the construction of large-scale solar and wind energy projects.

House Bill 5120-5123, introduced in the House on Tuesday, would give the unelected Michigan Public Service Commission the authority to permit large solar and wind construction, taking control away from local governments. The three-member board is made of governor appointees, and the governor is publicly supporting a plan to add thousands of square miles of new wind and solar farms in rural communities.

“This is a disgraceful attempt by far-left politicians to impose their will on residents who have made it abundantly clear that they do not want large-scale wind and solar farms forced on them,” said Martin, R-Davison. “This legislation will take away your voice when it comes to construction projects in your community. That’s wrong.”

People throughout the state have turned out in droves to voice opposition to wind and solar projects planned in their communities. In many cases, local boards and commissions have denied construction plans for the projects after listening to their residents’ concerns. Additionally, voters in many Michigan communities have soundly rejected ballot proposals that would have expanded developers’ ability to install wind or solar facilities in their area.

Under House Bill 5120-5123, Martin said the MPSC could force the projects on local communities with little regard for residents’ concerns, and the community would have no ability to hold the unelected commission members accountable.

House Democrats previously introduced House Bills 4759-4761, which would force Michigan electric companies to use entirely carbon-free power sources by 2035, prematurely closing natural gas plants and driving the cost of electricity through the roof.

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