ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – DTE Energy filed a lawsuit on July 3 against St. Clair County, the county’s board of commissioners and the county’s health department, accusing local officials of overstepping their authority by restricting large-scale solar projects through certain zoning regulations and health department approval.

County officials maintain that they’re not anti-solar – they just want a say in how, where, and when these massive projects take shape. Some of the health department regulations adopted on May 1 include noise regulations, obscuring projects from view from nearby roadways and properties, and getting health department approval before construction.

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St. Clair County Board of Commissioners Chairman Steve Simasko told the Times Herald, “It’s balanced. It’s not prohibitive.”

DTE, however, argues these rules create unnecessary roadblocks to Michigan’s clean energy transition – something the utility is under increasing pressure to accelerate because of rules imposed by the state’s Democratic leadership.

The heart of the dispute.

At the center of the legal clash is the balance between local control and statewide energy policy. Michigan’s Public Act 233 of 2023, currently in effect, gives the state government, through the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), authority to override local zoning laws for large-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects.

If a local ordinance doesn’t meet state standards, the MPSC can take over the permitting process – effectively stripping townships and counties of control over where and how these energy projects are built.

A case with broader implications.

The DTE lawsuit highlights a growing tension across Michigan – and the rest of the country – between communities concerned about industrial-scale solar projects and energy companies racing to meet clean energy targets. While solar is often supported in theory, local resistance often builds when panels start replacing farmland or start appearing near homes.

If DTE prevails, it could set a precedent that weakens local governments’ ability to regulate energy infrastructure. If the county wins, it may embolden other communities to push back against utility- scale solar development.