LANSING, Mich. – Nearly 80 Michigan municipalities have challenged the legality of the state’s processing of permitting requests for large-scale solar and wind energy facilities – a controversial policy passed by Michigan Democratic lawmakers last year that diminishes local control.
The legal appeal, filed Nov. 8 in the Michigan Court of Appeals, argues the Michigan Public Service Commission exceeded the powers granted it by the Legislature when it adopted an order Oct. 10 that governs the permitting process for solar arrays and wind turbine farms.
The Oct. 10 order did not follow the state rulemaking process and unlawfully redefined “key terms and concepts” that “violate the Legislature’s express and unambiguous intent,” the appeal said…