LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – People all over Michigan are fighting back against proposed wind turbines being put in their communities. They are forming Facebook groups like “Michigan Citizens United” to network with each other and warn of impending proposals for wind turbines in their townships and counties.

The Facebook group “Michigan Citizens United” is a public group that says they are a “grassroots coalition of citizens advocating against the irresponsible and invasive placement of industrial wind turbines and solar arrays in the State of Michigan.” The group says they “seek to maintain local authority of townships and communities in deciding upon these matters for themselves as they see fit, in keeping with Michigan Tradition.”

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Michigan Capitol Confidential says that “pro-turbine media stories have pointed unanimously toward statewide preemption since the election” because of the anti-renewable push in Michigan rural communities.

Bridge Michigan had reported in November that four referendums in Montcalm county that would have established guidelines for wind turbine installation were defeated as well as another solar referendum being defeated in another township in the same county. Additionally, seven officials were thrown out of office who were supporters of a proposed Apex Clean Energy’s wind turbine project. They were recalled and replaced by anti-wind turbine politicians.

The Bridge Michigan article also said, “there is there is growing discussion in Lansing of whether the state needs to take the renewable energy reins.”

While the push to expand green energy continues to come from the Democratic party, there is no doubt that the energy companies will have allies with the Democratic Governor and the Democratic legislature that will be in place the first of the next year. These Democrats would be potential partners with the energy companies to push the preemption of local zoning laws in order to install wind turbines in communities who don’t want them there.

Sidney Township Trustee Erik Benko told Michigan Capitol Confidential, “We’ve been working with politicians and learning how to play the game and winning…and now they’re trying to change the rules on us.”

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Benko is a co-founder of the Facebook group Montcalm County Citizens United, a group of 3,400 members who opposed Apex’s wind turbine plan. He won a seat in May on the township board after a Republican pro-wind turbine opponent was recalled. He was also the one who created the general Michigan Citizens United Facebook page in order to coordinate other local wind turbine opposition groups around Michigan.

Besides the Citizens United Facebook groups, there is also an organization called “Interstate Informed Citizens Coalition” (IICC) which is a non-profit corporation “dedicated to raising public awareness of the potential impacts from the construction of industrial wind turbines in our region.” They have information about Michigan and Ohio on their website.

Bridge Michigan reports that renewable energy sources provide about 11% of Michigan’s net electricity generation with 77% of that 11% coming from wind. There are 1,658 turbines in Michigan and 34 operating utility-scale wind turbine farms churning out 3,527 megawatts of energy – which is not close to the amount of electricity that state politicians and energy companies want to see happening. Consumers Energy and DTE, along with the governor, want to work towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and believe wind and solar will help them get there.

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) is having a virtual public hearing today from 4 to 7 pm regarding DTE Electric Company’s request for approval for it’s long-range plans for providing electric service to their 2.3 million customers in southeast Michigan and the Thumb. They will take comment from DTE Electric’s customers and stakeholders. The 20-year plan includes phasing out the use of coal and developing more solar and wind energy.

After winning her re-election, Governor Whitmer said that expanding clean energy was one of her goals. In April of this year, she announced her MI Healthy Climate Plan to create good-paying jobs, protect air and water. It includes a plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and interim steps taken by 2030 that include more clean energy, electric vehicle charging infrastructure as well as land and water conservation.