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residents have contacted their reps – and the reps failed them.

Residents in Oshtemo Township keep hearing the same advice: “Contact your reps” about the massive battery project planned up against homes, specialty farms and families in the residential area on S Van Kal Street, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo, MI.

Let it be known: residents have contacted their reps – and the reps failed them.

In December 2024, the Oshtemo Township Board in Kalamazoo County was asked to stand with other Michigan townships opposing PA 233, the law threatening local control over the siting of utility-scale battery projects. Instead, Oshtemo board members mocked residents as NIMBYs, defended PA 233 as “necessary”, and chose not to join the 79 townships and 5 counties already standing together against it.

Now that the consequences of PA 233 are showing up in our own community and the township board room, those same officials told residents during the May 12, 2026 board meeting to take it up with Lansing.

Residents and media have also asked Kalamazoo Judge Christine Morse to respond, since she was one of the sponsors of PA 233 during her time as a state representative. Nothing.

In Lansing, House Bills 4027 and 4028, which would overturn PA 233, passed the Michigan House but have been stalled in the Senate Government Operations Committee since May 6, 2025.

In September 2025, neighbors near S. Van Kal Street in Oshtemo Township began circulating petitions urging the Senate committee and local officials to move the bills forward for a vote. Those petitions were also submitted to the MPSC.

More than 1,200 signatures were collected in person and online in less than 45 days. Thick printed petition packets were mailed to the Senate Government Operations committee members including: Senators Winnie Brinks, Sam Singh, Jeremy Moss, Aric Nesbitt, Dan Lauwers and local Senator John McCann. Dozens of residents also wrote letters to the legislators as well.

Michigan Representatives Voting Against House Bill 4027 to overturn PA 233The petitions were also personally handed to Rep. Matt Longjohn, who represents the 40th District, including Portage, Oshtemo Township, Texas Township, and southwest Kalamazoo, at a coffee hour last fall. Several neighbors attended that event to discuss the battery project.

At that meeting, Rep. Longjohn was asked to take the letter and petitions to Lansing and help move the bills out of committee. He expressed deep concern, but no action followed, and emails after the meeting went unanswered. Other residents have reported receiving the same “deep concern” response in person.

It later came to light that Rep. Longjohn voted against HB 4027 and HB 4028 on April 30, 2025, which may explain the lack of follow-through and continued lack of action on behalf of his constituents.

Only the chair of the Senate Government Operations Committee can call a committee meeting and move House Bills 4027 & 4028 forward for a Senate vote. That chair is Senator Winnie Brinks. Brinks also recently criticized a new bill introduced to remove the mandates connected to PA 233, and she has also received significant campaign contributions from utilities.

The Energy and Policy Institute reported that PACs tied to DTE and Consumers Energy gave $479,450 to lawmakers, Whitmer, and party funds between January 1 and October 20, 2023. EPI Analysis found that Whitmer led state elected officials in DTE-linked donations, with $235,900 over her political career. Then came PA 233, signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on November 28, 2023, which threatens to shift control over large-scale energy siting, including battery storage, to the MPSC consisting of 3 members handpicked by Whitmer.

For residents concerned about inappropriate siting of industrial projects in backyards, it is important to understand where candidates stand (not just say they stand) and vote accordingly this November – that may mean checking boxes in ballot column you’re not used to.

Because at this point, it appears unlikely that PA 233, PA 235, or the MPSC decision-making process will change without a major shift in Lansing after the November election.

Coming Soon – How your taxes and rising energy bills have funded the inappropriate siting of industrial projects.

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