“… Whitmer signed legislation approved by Michigan Democrats in 2023 to impose a 100% clean energy standard by 2040, while shifting siting authority over wind, solar, and battery storage projects to the governor’s MPSC, a move designed to circumvent local opposition to renewable energy development…DTE officials testified the company would increase its renewable energy target by more than 30% to accommodate the data center, though specifics on how to do that depends on how many renewable energy credits DTE applies to the project. Company officials insist they can meet both Whitmer’s climate goals and the data center’s demands…The Related Digital project steams ahead despite widespread frustrations in Michigan over what’s become annual double-digit rate hike requests from both DTE and Consumers Energy, the state’s monopoly utility providers … “
Our “Save The Campbell” effort has a way to fight what is happening here: get local control of our county electric grid away from monopolies like Consumers Energy and DTE, so that we only allow projects which make sense for local citizens. We should not let these monopolies run all over us.
In order to succeed, we need township and county board leaders to place the 2nd round of Campbell resolutions on the agenda and pass them, as a first step towards getting local control. Thankfully, six township boards have already passed the resolutions, and more seem willing. Sadly, not yet one county board member has stated they will make sure it gets on the agenda for discussion. Also, sadly, the Allendale Township Board majority rejected it. But we keep plugging away and making progress, by the grace of God.