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New legislation threatens property rights and Michigan’s clean energy future

New legislation threatens property rights and Michigan’s clean energy future

Bills seek to roll back streamlined clean energy project siting, infringe on landowner rights

LANSING, MI – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today voiced strong opposition to newly-introduced House Bills 4027-28, which seek to repeal Public Act 235 of 2023 and block Michigan’s progress to expand clean energy and lower costs for families. These bills would strip away the streamlined siting process for wind and solar projects, making it harder for Michigan to meet its clean energy goals while threatening property owners’ ability to lease their land for renewable energy development. 

“Renewable energy is not only key to reducing pollution and lowering energy costs – it’s also a vital economic opportunity for Michigan communities, increasing the tax base for schools and creating local, high-paying jobs,” said Lisa Wozniak, executive director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “These bills would strip farmers and property owners of their right to use their own land for clean energy projects, taking away a critical source of income that helps keep family farms operating, protects our land, and ensures farming remains a viable way of life for future generations in our state.”

Public Act 235 was passed as part of Michigan’s Clean Energy and Jobs Act, a landmark clean energy package in 2023 that set the state on a path to 80% clean energy by 2035 and 100% by 2040 while ensuring communities maintain input on project siting. Now, anti-clean energy legislators and special interests are attempting to undo this progress – preventing lower energy costs and stronger, healthier communities. The new bills follow last year’s failed ballot initiative, backed by dark money groups funded through Big Oil and Big Gas interests, that sought to overturn Public Act 233, another key law supporting clean energy growth in Michigan.

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