The Michigan Legislature is moving forward with a plan to give the approval of large wind and solar energy projects to the Michigan Public Service Commission. That would strip away that authority from local governments, something opposed by the Berrien County Board of Commissioners.
Speaking at a Thursday meeting, Commissioner Julie Wuerfel said she was recently briefed by Madeline Fata of the Michigan Association of Counties on talks in Lansing. They were not encouraging.
“There was no willingness to have any of those discussions, from let’s have the counties involved or let’s have the MPSC be the negotiating or mediating facility with the counties and the business or the local and the business,” Wuerfel said. “They would not hear anything to do with that. So, that was quite disappointing to hear.”
Wuerfel said state lawmakers showed no interest in having county governments involved in the approval of large renewable energy projects.
A Senate committee approved the plan Thursday afternoon. It’s also been approved by a House committee.
