Bay County Officials Support Local Control Over Renewable Utility Projects

The Bay County Board of Commissioners is in support of the Citizens Local Choice Ballot Initiative which seeks to amend the Clean and Renewable Energy and Waste Reduction Act.

The Michigan Public Service Commission is taking steps to open implementation proceedings on changes from Michigan’s energy laws made on November 28, 2023. These changes include public acts granting authority to the MPSC for siting of utility-scale energy projects, increasing renewable portfolio standards for Michigan utilities to 60 percent by 2035 as well as raising energy waste reduction targets.

The Bay County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution at Tuesday’s meeting in support for the Citizens Local Choice Ballot Initiative, which seeks to amend the act, in an effort to restore local control for wind and solar operations. The Board expressed local government is best positioned to assess the needs of their communities.