Summary tables for questionnaire items from the Fall 2023 MiLES Survey Broken down by jurisdiction type, population size, region of the state, and urban/rural designation are accessible below.

Table of Contents

Relevance of Energy Issues to Jurisdiction

2. Relevance of regulating placement of energy infrastructure on private property in the community
   1. Relevance of regulating placement of energy infrastructure on private property in the community
   2. Relevance of siting energy infrastructure on public property in the jurisdiction
   3. Relevance of planning for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure
   4. Relevance of improving energy efficiency for local businesses or residents
   5. Relevance of reducing the jurisdiction government’s use of fossil fuels 
3.  
   1. Extent to which jurisdiction has considered plans / policies regarding energy issues
   2. Extent to which jurisdiction has developed specific plans / policies regarding energy issues
   3. Extent to which jurisdiction has implemented plans / policies regarding energy issues

Among jurisdictions that have considered (or developed/implemented) policies on energy issues

Among jurisdictions that have considered energy issues: Staffing

4. Does jurisdiction’s government have a person or persons who are specifically responsible for addressing energy issues 

Among jurisdictions that have considered energy issues: Renewable Energy Goals or Requirements

5.  
   1. Extent to which jurisdiction has considered plans / policies regarding energy issues
   2. Extent to which jurisdiction has developed specific plans / policies regarding energy issues
   3. Extent to which jurisdiction has implemented plans / policies regarding energy issues
6.  
   1. Confidence in meeting goals for jurisdiction use
   2. Confidence in meeting goals for entire community
7.  
   1. Changes to net metering laws would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   2. Allowing for community solar projects or installations would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   3. Changes to state building codes designed to reduce energy use or decarbonize would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   4. Significantly upgrading electric grid infrastructure would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   5. Supporting independent microgrids would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   6. Don't know what changes to state policy would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals
   7. Other changes to state policy would help jurisdiction meet its energy goals

Among jurisdictions that have considered energy issues: Electric Vehicles

8. Has jurisdiction considered or adopted policies to fund or incentivize the use of EVs
9. Are there any publicly-accessible EV Charging Stations in Jurisdiction
10. Does community have too many, too few, or about the right amount of EV charging stations
11.  
    1. No challenges in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    2. Lack of interest among residents a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    3. Lack of interest among local officials a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    4. Lack of technical knowledge a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    5. Opposition from local businesses a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    6. Costs a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    7. Existing parking regulations a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    8. Permitting process through the utility a challenge in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations
    9. Don't know challenges in creating new publicly-accessible EV charging stations

Among jurisdictions that have considered energy issues: Planning and zoning on energy issues 

12. Division of authority for planning and zoning on energy issues (see combined responses from q12 and q24 below)
13.  
    1. Does township, city, or village plan or zone its own land use?
    2. Does county plan or zone for any townships?
14.  
    1. Would find additional funds or grants useful for planning and/or zoning on energy issues
    2. Would find templates (Master Plan language, sample public engagement surveys) useful for planning and/or zoning on energy issues
    3. Would find access to technical experts on local impacts of energy useful for planning and/or zoning on energy issues
    4. Would find training for jurisdiction staff or officials (webinars, in-person trainings) useful for planning and/or zoning on energy issues
    5. Would find customized technical assistance (review of draft ordinances, planning commission meetings) useful for planning and/or zoning on energy issues
15.  
    1. Jurisdiction has sufficient information to zone
    2. Jurisdiction has sufficient access to expertise to renew site plans
    3. Jurisdiction has sufficient access to legal counsel on siting matters
16.  
    1. Tone of discussions about renewable energy zoning among elected officials themselves
    2. Tone of discussions about renewable energy zoning between elected officials and residents

Among jurisdictions that have considered energy issues: Local energy project funding 

17. Is jurisdiction pursuing state or federal funding for local energy projects

Among jurisdictions that have not considered energy issues at all

Among jurisdictions that have not considered energy issues: Barriers to developing energy policies 

19.  
    1. Lack of interest among residents
    2. Lack of interest among local officials
    3. Costs associated with developing policy
    4. Lack of expertise to develop policy
    5. Other priorities are more important currently
20. Would more resources make a difference in jurisdiction's consideration or adoption of local policies regarding energy

Among jurisdictions that have not considered energy issues: Electric Vehicles (EVs)

22. Are there any publicly-accessible EV Charging Stations in Jurisdiction
23. Does community have too many, too few, or about the right amount of EV charging stations?

Among all respondents

Division of authority for planning and zoning on energy issues (combined responses from q12 and q24) 

24.  
    1. How should authority be divided on whether or not to have any renewable energy projects in a community
    2. How should authority be divided on whether or not to have large renewable energy projects in a community
    3. How should authority be divided on the types of renewable energy that belong in a community
    4. How should authority be divided on where renewable energy belongs in a community
    5. How should authority be divided on the parameters for renewable energy projects
    6. How should authority be divided on conducting public hearings on proposed renewable energy projects for community

Among all respondents

Energy issues that are topics of discussion in jurisdiction

25.  
    1. Extended power outages are a topic of discussion
    2. Energy affordability is a topic of discussion
    3. State or federal funding for energy projects is a topic of discussion
    4. Requiring local business to benchmark/report energy efficiency is a topic of discussion
    5. Concerns over cost of sustainability efforts to jurisdiction are a topic of discussion
    6. Concerns over power plant closures are a topic of discussion
    7. Renewable natural gas infrastructure is a topic of discussion
    8. Environmental justice concerns are a topic of discussion
    9. None of the above are a topic of discussion

Building Energy Codes

26. Do building inspectors who operate in the jurisdiction struggle to enforce the current energy codes set by the State of Michigan
27. To what extent should the State of Michigan’s Energy Codes should be strengthened or eased
28. How should authority be divided between local and state levels of government in regards to setting energy codes?

Energy Infrastructure

29. Do you believe the jurisdiction hosts more or less than its fair share of statewide energy infrastructure?
30.  
    1. Support or opposition to new development of large-scale solar projects in jurisdiction
    2. Support or opposition to new development of solar panels on rooftops of homes or businesses in jurisdiction
    3. Support or opposition to new development of large-scale wind projects in jurisdiction
    4. Support or opposition to new development of a nuclear power plant in jurisdiction
    5. Concerns over cost of sustainability efforts to jurisdiction are a topic of discussionSupport or opposition to new development of a natural gas power plant in jurisdiction
    6. Support or opposition to new development of large-scale battery storage systems in jurisdiction
    7. Support or opposition to new development of electric transmission lines in jurisdiction
31.  
    1. Cheap energy is a priority for jurisdiction’s residents
    2. Clean energy is a priority for jurisdiction’s residents
    3. Reliable energy is a priority for jurisdiction’s residents
    4. Energy independence is a priority for jurisdiction’s residents
32.  
    1. Support or opposition to increase of solar power in Michigan
    2. Support or opposition to increase of wind power in Michigan on land
    3. Support or opposition to increase of offshore wind power in the Great Lakes
    4. Support or opposition to increase of nuclear power in Michigan
    5. Support or opposition to mandating expanded use of renewable energy through state law
    6. Support or opposition to mandating energy efficiency/ conservation measures through state law
33.  
    1. Trust getting information on energy policy from electric utility that serves jurisdiction
    2. Trust getting information on energy policy from local government state associations (MTA, MML, MAC)
    3. Trust getting information on energy policy from Regional Planning Organizations (SEMCOG, NEMCOG)
    4. Trust getting information on energy policy from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
    5. Trust getting information on energy policy from private energy contractors or consultants
    6. Trust getting information on energy policy from nonprofits dedicated to energy issues
    7. Trust getting information on energy policy from a college or university
    8. Trust getting information on energy policy from other local governments with existing energy policy
    9. Trust getting information on energy policy from people who live near existing energy projects

Perspective on Climate Change

34. Seriousness of climate change
35.  
    1. Responsibility of federal government to address climate change
    2. Responsibility of state government to address climate change
    3. Responsibility of local governments to address climate change

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