A ballot initiative aimed at amending the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act to, among other things, repeal Part 8 as added by Public Act 233 of 2023, which stripped away local control of large scale utility land-use projects.
Our team is committed to amending this act because we know that locals have greater insight into what their community needs than the state.
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You will receive the petition in the mail.
"During my three terms as a State Representative, one of the things that both parties held sacred was that regulation of land use should rest in the hands of the folks that know their communities best and that is the people who actually live there. Renewable energy has an important role to play in Michigan but it should be developed in a way that respects the local community."
Doug Spade, former Democratic State Representative
"My family and I have been living too close to wind turbines longer than anyone else in the State of Michigan. The two turbines in Mackinaw City are next to our home and are irresponsibly sited too close. But under the new state law, they could be placed even closer than they are now. Local control of zoning is the best way to make sure someone else isn't the next victim of corporate developers.”
Mr. Kelly Alexander, Emmet County, MI
“In Michigan, tenant farmers contribute significantly to our crops. While utilities claim to need only a small portion of prime farmland, they overlook the economic destruction to local agriculture. Taking large swaths of land out of production hinders new and young farmers from finding affordable land. The cash offered for land rent ends up in the hands of a few corporate farms, not benefiting the local community."
Maurie Denecker, Riga Township Planning Commissioner and Multi-Generational Farmer
"As a lifelong environmentalist, I was appalled when a foreign corporation proposed constructing a large-scale wind energy project on the Michigamme Highlands and the Huron Mountains in L'Anse Township. A project of that scale would have directly impacted Mount Arvon, the highest point in Michigan as well as the vast networks of rivers, streams and wetlands in Baraga County which is known as the county with the most waterfalls in Michigan. It was only through local zoning that we were able to protect those precious natural features. Without local zoning, our wild places are at risk of corporate exploitation."
Catherine Andrews, former L'Anse Twp. Planning Commissioner
"Let's unite to get this initiative on the November ballot and oppose any attempt to strip local control of solar and wind projects. Michigan can achieve energy development at our own pace by respecting local voices."
Liz Masters, Supervisor of Wales Township, St. Clair County
“It’s ridiculous to think that this is not going to change the entire landscape of this state and critically impact and cripple food production.”
Senator Ed McBroom, Dairy Farmer from the UP
"This effort to bring in major out-of-state companies to steamroll local control is shameful, and what's happening is wrong. I am so glad, and in total support, of this initiative to stop these efforts. Everyone who cares about their community should support Citizens for Local Choice to get on the ballot, and to vote for local control in the next election."
State Representative Rachelle Smit,
District 43
"The inability of townships and municipalities to control their own future and master planning, because of the passed energy legislation, will have lasting detrimental effects upon our citizens. The ability to control zoning is quite possibly the most important process local government has."
State Representative William Bruck, District 30,
Owner, Visiting Angels Monroe/Toledo,
Army Veteran CW4 (R): Iraq, Afghanistan & Syria
Thank you for contacting us. If you are reaching out regarding how to sign a petition, please visit our 'Petitions' page here on our website. By signing up to be a volunteer, we will automatically send you 5 petitions.
If you would like to be more involved, please reach out to your county captain, a list of captains can be found under the 'Resources' page here on our website.
We must submit the required 356,958 valid signatures from registered voters by May 29th in order for the initiative to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. Our goal is to collect 550,000 signatures to ensure a margin of error.
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If you are reaching out with a question or to volunteer, please email us directly at citizensforlocalchoice@gmail.com
Paid for with regulated funds by
Citizens for Local Choice
P.O. Box 14309
Lansing, MI 48901
Office: 215 S Washington Sq, Ste F, Lansing, MI 48933
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