Michigan PA 233, which overthrows local zoning in the name of promoting the Net Zero agenda, should be overturned. We should be trying at the state level to overturn it.
But Ottawa County Republicans need to also pursue local control of our electric grid with the help of the Trump Administration at the same time as pursuing the overturning of PA 233, for a few reasons:
- Even if PA 233 is overturned, it does not mean Consumers Energy, the courts, outside environmental groups like Earth Justice, the MPSC, etc. will not continue to pursue the misguided Net Zero agenda, at the expense of West Michigan residential electric customers and property owners.
- Michigan state level politics is mostly controlled by areas outside of West Michigan, and the more populated areas outside of West Michigan typically lean more liberal. We should not be held hostage by state level politics when we have opportunity to control our own destiny .
- At a time of rapidly growing electric and water resource demand from data centers, we need the tool of local control to help make sure our local interests are first served and protected with data center projects.
- While PA 233 will help stop misguided solar and battery projects, it will not get us on a sound energy path of having sufficient fossil fuel plants to cover growing electric demand.