Large Michigan Solar Projects Can Now Bypass Township Permit Denials. 122 of 148 Lawmakers Took Utility Money

One of Michigan’s electric utilities, Consumers Energy, announced plans to build up to 9,000 megawatts of solar power on 209,000 acres of farmland. The total size of these solar projects is about 326 square miles. That’s about 2.5 times the size of Detroit itself.

Nearly all these costs get added to citizens’ electric bills. Recognizing this would likely create opposition within townships, Democrat politicians in Michigan passed Public Act 233. It overrides a township if they deny a solar or wind farm permit.

For decades, Michigan’s 1,773 local township governments had the authority to decide whether a large solar farm could be built in their communities. In late November of 2023, Public Act 233 was signed into law. Larger solar (>50MW) and wind (>100MW) projects can now skip the voices of local residents. They now have almost no say in some of Michigan’s biggest industrial projects.

If the local jurisdiction denies the solar application, takes too long, or imposes excessive rules, the developer can bypass the township entirely. They can apply directly to the 3 person Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for approval. All 3 commissioners are appointed by Democrat governor Gretchen Whitmer. In some cases, these developers can bypass townships from the onset.

PA 233 was introduced by MI House of Representatives Abraham Aiyash (D), a top Muslim lawmaker from the Detroit area. Every Democrat voted in favor of the bill, every Republican against (20-18). Like fascists, the MI Democrats took oversight from these small townships and gave it to MPSC. Democrats also control MPSC, which determines how much the two utility companies can charge their MI customers (Consumers Energy, DTE Energy).

Anyone living in Michigan for long periods knows the skies are often overcast and cloudy. Residents who move to states like FL, TX, or AZ feel “energized” from the regular sun. Michigan has a lower sun angle, extremely cold temperatures, snow, freezing rain, and so on. AI claims MI receives just over half the sun energy of a state like Arizona (55-65%).

Michigan is one of the worst states in the country for solar energy. Michigan Democrats push solar because the money flows in a circle. The utility companies pay the politicians. The politicians pick the regulators. The regulators approve the company’s projects. The company charges electricity users for those projects. Then the company uses some of that money to pay the politicians again.

According to the Michigan Farm Bureau, solar developers are clever in how they lock up farmland. The township planners and neighboring farmers often don’t know land is under a solar deal until an application is filed to build. Here are some land tactics used.

• Option to Lease: A small amount is paid to the farmer for the right to lease the land at a later date. The solar company is under no obligation to lease it.
• Secrecy Clauses: Farmers can’t disclose anything to anyone – that a deal has been made, in the works, amounts, not even the companies involved.
• Exit Rules: The farmer is locked in for 10-25 years, with recurring 5-year renewal options. Solar company can walk away at any time.

The investment firm WisdomTree recently bought Ceres Partners. They now own 49,964 acres of Michigan farmland across 187 parcels. WisdomTree’s CEO Jonathan Steinberg said the deal was driven by a “growing demand for solar, AI data infrastructure, and water.

Due to the One Big Beautiful Bill, the tax breaks of 30% will end this summer. To get the full break, projects must start building before July 4th or finish by December 31, 2027. Consumers Energy is rushing to get projects approved before the deadline. The Mackinac Center for Public Policy estimates that losing the tax credits, plus tariff increases, could push costs up 40% or more.

FOLLOW THE MONEY: CMS Energy owns Consumers Energy and NorthStar Clean Energy, a development company headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI. NorthStar builds solar, wind, and energy storage projects. They sell the electricity to Consumers Energy. The money flows out of the pockets of electricity users, to Consumers Energy, to NorthStar, and then up to their parent company, CMS Energy.

Although MI residents make payments directly to Consumers Energy, CMS Energy is in control of the whole operation. They plan to spend $17 billion over five years on new energy projects. Most of that money will eventually come from the people who pay electric bills.

An analysis by the Energy & Policy Institute found that CMS and Consumers Energy gave money to 122 of the 148 state lawmakers through PACS. That’s 82% of the entire state legislature. Consumers Energy gave $43 million to the secret money group Citizens for Energizing Michigan’s Economy (CEME), which gave the money to politicians. Executives and lobbyists from Consumers Energy also sit on the board of CEME.

The other electric company, DTE Energy, mirrored the same process. They gave $51 million to their own dark money group, Michigan Energy First. Democrat Governor Gretchen Whitmer received the largest amount of money ($151,000) in utility donations, along with $1M to her nonprofit in 2022. She picks the 3 commissioners of the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), listed below. They decide rates and solar/wind project locations.

• Dan Scripps, Chairperson (term ends 2019) – He was president of MEIBC, a group promoting clean energy businesses. He now regulates the companies that build clean energy.
• Katherine L. Peretick (term ends 2027) – Former Director of Engineering at energy storage company NRStor. Worked in India, Denmark, and the U.S. for wind turbine manufacturer Vestas. Would probably be a perfect salesperson for CMS Energy.
• Shaquila Myers (term ends 2031) – She has no industry experience. Was Chief-of-Staff to the MI House Speaker Joe Tate when PA 233 was debated and passed. Also a senior advisor to Governor Whitmer.

Late last year, Whitmer faced blowback for ousting a well-respected regulator, Alessandra Carreon. She served only 2 of 6 years, the shortest term in the MPSC’s last 40 years. Whitmer replaced her with Shaquila Myers, a political ally and legislative aide with no utility experience. Hmmm!

Here’s how rate increases work, politically. The utility company always asks for MUCH more than they need. In March 2025, Consumers Energy asked Michigan for a $436 million electricity rate hike. The state Attorney General recommended a $152 million increase. It then goes to the MPSC commission, which approved a $277 million rate increase.

The MI Attorney General, Dana Nessel (D), then issues one press release after another. Claims she’s fighting for consumers, which builds her notoriety as she runs for office again, or for Governor. Claims she saved constituents money compared to what utilities wanted, and so on. The MPSC approves more than what the AG recommends in every case, and has never denied an increase. The State AG office has no enforcement power and is just a speed bump in the process. It’s all political theater.

Michigan ranks at the bottom for electricity reliability and 11th highest in the nation for residential prices.

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