Standing up for SW Michigan voters

This week, Michigan House Democrats are attempting to move legislation through the House Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee that will strip control away from local communities regarding the siting of large-scale solar and wind energy projects.

Time and time again, the residents of Michigan have heard from Democrats in majority about respecting the will of the people. In my district, the people of Decatur spoke loudly and clearly when they shot down a solar ordinance with a margin of 80% to 20% - an electoral thrashing. This sentiment is echoed all throughout rural Michigan with ordinances failing at the ballot box, and the people of these communities making their voices heard. Now with this pending legislation, Democrats are telling Michigan residents that elections don’t matter, and their voices don’t count. That’s wrong, and it’s undemocratic.

If liberal lawmakers want to litter their communities with solar panels and wind turbines – that’s fine with me. But don’t try and ram through legislation to overturn the will of voters in my district and tell them you know what’s best for them. I can’t imagine any Republicans supporting this authoritarian version of the Democrats’ ‘Green Dream,’ which means if it passes, it will be with 100% Democratic support on a party-line vote.

The legislation was put up for a committee hearing last week, and at the time of this op-ed, a blank agenda has been posted for the House Energy Committee on Wednesday. I have every expectation that Democrats will try to ram through this legislation and take power away from local voters and put it into the hands of unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats. When they do, I’ll be standing up for Southwest Michigan voters and voting no.

As always, if you have any comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office at PaulineWendzel@house.mi.gov or at 517-373-1799.