– Michigan lawmakers are urged to pass Senate Bills 152 and 153, enabling all residents to opt for clean, affordable, and reliable energy via community solar.
-This legislation would allow renters to buy clean energy from local solar arrays and automatically gain bill credits from community solar power generation, cutting utility costs for disadvantaged residents.
– Community solar is accessible to low-income customers and those in multifamily housing, creates thousands of jobs, and boosts energy reliability.
Imagine if everyone in Michigan, regardless of income or whether they rent or own their home, could have access to clean, affordable, reliable energy. We know it’s possible.
For example, in states like Minnesota, renters can purchase clean energy from local solar arrays. In New York, the state’s Public Service Commission approved a plan to combine the state’s energy assistance program with the benefits of community solar. Beginning in January 2026, low-income households in communities historically impacted by pollution will begin automatically receiving bill credits based on community solar power generation, growing the demand for clean energy projects while reducing utility costs for disadvantaged residents.
Unfortunately, big utility companies profit from keeping consumers reliant on centralized systems powered by polluting fossil fuel plants. They’re opposed to smaller, localized power generation like community solar – and they have plenty of money to lobby against it. Despite bipartisan support and its proven success in other states, DTE and Consumers Energy have been successful in blocking community solar in Michigan for years.
But could 2024 be the year for these changes? With only a few session days left before the legislative calendar ends, we are calling on Michigan lawmakers to focus on important issues that will positively impact all Michigan residents, like community solar.
This includes Senate Bills 152 and 153, a vital legislative package that will define the future of community solar development across the state. These bills would require electric providers to connect with community solar parks owned by third parties and offer a credit to participating customers. (Right now, utility companies only connect to their own solar developments, with customers voluntarily paying more for clean energy instead of receiving any credit on their bills.)
This legislation would put the power of solar where it belongs: in the hands of all Michigan residents instead of under the thumb of big utilities driven by profit and demanding constant rate hikes.
Community solar is also key to building justice and equity in the clean energy transition. It is accessible to low-wealth customers and those living in multifamily housing. Enabling community solar would create thousands of jobs over the next two decades, bringing over $1.5 billion in economic benefits to our state.
It would improve energy reliability, a significant issue, given that Michigan has one of the country’s least reliable power grids. Finally, community solar would lower bills for renters and others who can’t install rooftop solar.
And that’s the main reason Michigan utilities are wielding their influence and spending big bucks in Lansing to block this bipartisan legislation from being implemented.
Without these bills, Michigan risks leaving federal money on the table. The state received $156 million as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar For All program, which mandates reducing energy bills for low-income households by at least 20 percent. The state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) manages these funds, which will be distributed through the MI Solar for All program.
The Empower Michigan coalition, a statewide group of climate justice organizations, has urged EGLE to prioritize community-owned community solar to meet this requirement and benefit communities disproportionately impacted by spiraling energy costs, recurring power outages, and fossil fuel pollution.
No matter how you look at it, we need community solar, and we need it now. The Michigan Legislature must pass Senate Bills 152 and 153 to allow all Michigan residents to choose clean, affordable, reliable energy.
Enabling community solar will kick-start renewable energy projects, creating local jobs, spurring competition, and providing new economic opportunities for farmers, rural communities, and urban areas throughout the state. And most importantly, if this legislation passes, individuals and small businesses will see real savings on their energy bills.
Legislators must decide whether to side with monopoly utilities who think they own the sun or communities ready for local ownership of clean, lower-cost power.
Your voice can make a difference – take action today to urge your state legislators to pass these crucial bills! You can sign up here for updates and stay informed about opportunities to engage with EGLE on MI Solar for All.
Planet Detroit’s Voices column includes opinion pieces from our community of partners and readers. These pieces express the voices of the authors and not necessarily those of the publication.
LINCOLN, Ala. (WBRC) - Some Lincoln High School students are working to train in the high-demand field of cybersecurity.When you work 40 hours a week and a thie
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) - The state of Iowa, like many states, needs more healthcare workers. Job opening data through Iowa Works
Lansing — Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan GOP, and Betsy DeVos, a prominent Republican political donor from the state, are being floated as potential
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - UVA’s John Paul Jones Arena was full, but not with its typical sports fans or concert goers, but by people hoping to find a job,