Litchfield Township is a small, rural community in Hillsdale County, Michigan. Many of its residents have farmed this land for generations. People come from miles around to kayak down the flowing waters of the St. Joe River and walk the North County Trail. Abundant wildlife call its woodlands home and it is not uncommon to see deer frolicking in its fields. Residents love the small town, quiet countryside life. 

However, that is all about to change. Big solar wants to sink its teeth into this community. This would not only cause catastrophic damage to the prime agricultural land and surrounding woodlands, displace thousands of animals, negatively impact property values, and much more. While there are places best suited for solar panel installations, fertile agricultural land is NOT it. 

After months of hard work, an appropriate ordinance was finally passed! In October of 2023, it took affect. However, in November our governor signed PA 233 of 2023, which essentially takes away the rights of townships to set zoning for utility scale energy facilities and battery storage. Citizens for Local Choice is working to fight this! 

Citizens for Local Choice is a bipartisan group of volunteers from across the great state of Michigan, working to get on the November 2024 ballot to give the people their voice back! If enough signatures are gathered on their petition, this issue will on the ballot and allow the PEOPLE the ability to decide whether we want three APPOINTED bureaucrats in Lansing to make those decisions for us, or restore that right to our ELECTED township officials. 

Under township control, Michigan has almost TWICE the amount of wind turbines as Ohio and Wisconsin COMBINED. As well as comparative solar numbers. So why did the governor essentially take away local governments rights to set zoning? 

Please reach out to your communities and encourage them to support Citizens for Local Choice and sign the petition to have our local voices restored!


Cover photos credit - Kyle Speith, Roger Speith, Pat Kies, and Gerri Osmun.