CLICK TO HEAR JACK HALL’S INTERVIEW WITH STATE REP. DAVE PRESTIN
State Representative Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) says new Democratic proposals about large-scale solar and wind energy projects would undermine the ability for local communities to regulate them.
The bills were introduced by House Democrats last week and later received a hearing before the House Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee. The legislation would give the Michigan Public Service Commission the authority to permit large solar and wind construction, diminishing local input and the roles of local elected officials. The three-member board is made exclusively of Governor Whitmer’s appointees.
Pestin says that people throughout the state have turned out to their local government board meetings to voice opposition to wind and solar projects planned in their communities. In many cases, he says, local elected boards and commissions have decided to deny construction plans for the projects after listening to the concerns of their constituents.
“They are running into so much grass-roots resistance, whether it be townships, your county boards, basically all local governmental authorities,” Prestin told RRN News. “Through current law, they had the ability, when they feel that certain projects are not good for their area, and what I’m seeing here, is they (green energy companies) are not getting what they want on the local level, so they’re turning to Lansing for basically unilateral control for sighting these projects. This is something I can’t stand for. I am pro-property rights. I believe a person should be able to do with their property as they see fit.”
Furthermore, Prestin also tells RRN’s Jack Hall that widespread use of wind and solar to provide electricity is a pipe dream.
“This is all driven by money,” Prestin added. “By massive stimulus dollars poured into this green agenda. The bottom line is that green energy is unreliable, and ineffective, especially when it comes to the Upper Peninsula and the climate that we live in. Battery storage (for electric cars, etc.) right now, the best they can do is four hours. I would submit that in the U.P., with our extreme temperatures, I don’t know that you would even get four hours. Our system is not ready for it, and it will inccrease costs.”
Prestin says these proposals could make matters worse for U.P residents who already pay higher energy prices than of many downstate counterparts.
Prestin called on state rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette), without naming her, to join the U.P.’s Republican lawmakers in opposing these bills.
“I wish the U.P. delegation was united, but, once again, we’re not,” Prestin said. “That’s very unfortunate. I feel this is a threat to the people of the Upper Peninsula, in particular, to the Marquette region (which Hill represents). We’re just not having a realistic discussion on energy, especially when it relates to the Upper Peninsula. And for Michigan as a whole.”
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