"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 "

In November 2023, Governer Whitmer signed into law the Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act. This law essentially takes away the ability of Michigan townships to set zoning for large scale utility land-use projects and places it into the hands of APPOINTED bureaucrats in Lansing, not the ELECTED township officials that reside in the communities they serve.

Our team is committed to amending this act because we know that locals have greater insight into what their community needs than the state. The Clean and Renewable Energy and Energy Waste Reduction Act sets out to apply a one size fits all approach to zoning. No two Michigan townships are the same and should have the right to set zoning based around the unique needs of their communities.

The only way to regain the right for Michigan townships is to force the state to allow the residents to decide for ourselves. This is why Citizens for Local Choice began a petition initiative. If enough signatures are gathered to get our cause on the ballot, the people can make the decision for themselves whether they want to retain the right to set their own zoning or allow the state to take over. This is how it should be!

We have had our voices stolen WITHOUT our consent and we need to make a stand to get them back!

For more information regarding this initiative or to find where to sign a petition, please go to www.micitizenschoice.org  , follow Hillsdale County Citizens for Local Choice on facebook, or contact the Hillsdale County Captain at arblack87@yahoo.com.