Waterford Today

Matt Maddock, a House Representative from Michigan, said that energy companies profit from building solar infrastructure while local leaders defend agricultural land. This statement was made on the social media platform X.

"St. Clair County has some of the most valuable and fertile soil in the state," said Maddock, State Representative from Michigan. "Michigan is almost dead last for solar. Energy companies make 90% of their profits on building new infrastructure solar scams."

The proposed Ranger Power solar project in Fort Gratiot Township has intensified debates over land use policy in St. Clair County, Michigan. Local officials and residents are questioning the balance between clean energy expansion and municipal zoning authority. According to reporting by the Times Herald, hearings in early 2025 saw residents voice concerns over health, property values, and environmental impacts. The county health department’s attempt to regulate solar siting highlighted Michigan’s broader struggle between state energy goals and local home rule.

Michigan's installed solar capacity reached 1,444 megawatts by the end of 2023, representing a nearly 400% increase since 2020, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Despite this growth, Michigan ranks 27th among U.S. states for total solar capacity, indicating it still lags behind many peers in renewable adoption. Utility-scale solar generation in the state also increased by 53% year-over-year.

An analysis by the International Energy Agency shows that global energy companies’ profits from infrastructure projects have outpaced returns from commodity sales. Firms invested only 4% of their record $2.7 trillion in 2023 profits into clean energy. Meanwhile, companies like Quanta Services have seen stock prices soar nearly 900% in five years as infrastructure demand rises.

Maddock is a Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives for the 51st District and is known for sponsoring conservative legislation and previously serving as chair of several key committees, as reported by the official Michigan House GOP website. Maddock entered the House in 2019 and has advocated for increased local control in energy and zoning issues while challenging executive authority during Michigan’s pandemic response.