November 16 meeting: Overcoming opposition to green energy
Expanded use of green energy, especially wind and solar, is crucial
to our efforts to deal with climate change. Yet green energy projects face growing
headwinds. The number of planned solar and wind projects in the United States
has grown rapidly, but so has the percentage that are facing serious delays.
Some of those delays arise from high interest rates or international
supply chain snags, but many are due to local opposition. But that opposition
is not always truly local. As the Kleinman
Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania reports, “dark
money” from the fossil fuel industry often funds misinformation about clean
energy, influences legislation and elections, and leverages local opposition to
undermine the transition to renewable energy.
Michigan legislators are fighting back against the delays with
a proposed rebalancing of the permitting process. A
package of bills would give a state commission authority over site permits
for large solar and wind farm projects, reducing the power of local governments
to block such developments, as they often have in recent years. The permitting process
would, however, continue to require public meetings and consultations with
local officials in each affected community. It would also safety and aesthetic standards.
We have invited Douglas Jester, Managing
Partner at 5 Lakes Energy, to our meeting to introduce the topic of local
control and green energy. Some of our own Cracker Barrel regulars who have
worked in this area will also participate.
The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Church in
Northport, as usual. Here are some background readings for those who are
interested:
- Detroit News article on the proposed legislation
- Kleinman Center article on dark money opposition to solar and wind
- Poll on rural attitudes toward renewable energy
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