Michigan Court of Appeals Issues Split Decision on Renewable Energy Regulations
The Michigan Court of Appeals has delivered a split ruling on the state's renewable energy regulations, largely upholding the Michigan Public Service Commission's authority to approve large wind, solar, and battery projects over local objections. The court found that the commission followed proper legal processes in implementing a 2023 law aimed at expediting renewable energy projects. However, the court also ruled that the commission misinterpreted certain aspects of the law, which improperly limited local government power. The ruling comes after a contentious debate over Public Act 233, which was passed to accelerate Michigan's transition to renewable energy. Local governments had sued, arguing that the commission's rules undermined local control. The court sided with local governments on two issues, including the timing of the local approval process and the definition of 'affected local units' eligible for certain privileges. 
