Amid growing debates over renewable energy, a new legislative proposal in Michigan aims to cap solar power generation and impose restrictions on solar farm locations. The Republican-led initiative seeks to limit solar energy’s contribution to the state’s grid to 20% and restrict the construction of new solar arrays on certain public lands.
The legislation specifically prohibits solar developments in areas where public lands have been clear-cut for solar purposes, drawing criticism from environmental advocates.
Environmental organizations, including the Michigan Sierra Club, have voiced their concerns. “It is encouraging for us to see the republican party in Michigan want to engage in discussion with community solar and with solar legislation,” stated Nora Naughton, representing the Sierra Club. “This just isn’t the bill.”
Critics argue that the proposed 20% cap could hinder Michigan’s aspirations to achieve 100% clean energy by 2040, a target established by state law in 2023. Naughton emphasized the importance of keeping all options open in the early stages of transitioning to clean energy, stating, “Removing any options, especially in this early stage of switching to more reliable clean energy, would certainly make it harder.”
Proponents of the bill, including Michigan House Republicans, assert that the cap will prevent excessive solar development that could jeopardize grid reliability and increase costs for consumers. According to a press release, the cap is intended to protect against “a reckless overbuild of solar at the expense of ratepayers and reliability.”
Naughton contends that existing clean energy legislation already addresses these concerns, arguing, “The guidelines already exist. We don’t need to put an arbitrary cap on these things.”
The bill’s primary advocate, Representative Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock), describes the proposal as “a true conservative alternative to radical energy mandates,” highlighting its focus on prioritizing Michigan’s residents and economy without relying on governmental mandates or external dependencies.
Meanwhile, Katie Carey, spokesperson for Consumers Energy, one of Michigan’s leading power providers, expressed the company’s opposition to the bill. She explained that the proposed 10% savings on power from community solar facilities could lead to increased rates for non-participants.
“Not only does this force nonparticipating customers to pay more, but it also means that community solar subscribers are able to avoid paying their fair share of the costs to support the electric grid and the generation resources that ensure there is adequate power any time, day or night,” Carey noted in her statement.
The proposal, named “Maximizing American Grid Affordability” or MAGA, shares an acronym with former President Donald Trump’s slogan. It is currently under review by the House Energy Committee.
Editor’s note: Consumers Energy is among Michigan Public’s corporate sponsors.
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