State Rep. Gina Johnsen on Wednesday spearheaded the House passage of a plan to restore local authority for large-scale wind and solar projects throughout Michigan.

“These bills mark an important step forward in restoring local control over zoning decisions for large-scale wind, solar, and energy storage developments,” said Johnsen, R-Portland. “Our communities—not unelected bureaucrats in Lansing—deserve the final say in how land is used in their backyards.”

House Bills 4027-4028 would restore zoning and permitting authority over large-scale wind and solar projects to local governments, a power currently held by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The MPSC was gifted the authority by legislative Democrats as part of radical environmentalist energy laws passed in 2023. Before the new laws, large-scale wind and solar projects required local approval.

“Statewide mandates disregard the uniqueness of our communities,” Johnsen said. “Forcing industrial-scale projects without local consent is just wrong. We cannot let the state treat our land like a dumping ground for corporate energy interests. The fight is not over, but the passage of this plan is a critical first step to restoring local control and ensuring no local government is forced to sit on their hands while their treasured land is replaced with Chinese solar panels.”

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