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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2026
Organizations back legislation that would open highways to transmission siting
After decades of flat growth in the power sector, Michigan is facing a fast rise in demand for electricity — meaning the state will need simple, common-sense solutions to building planned high-voltage transmission. Today, the NextGen Highways initiative is launching a coalition in support of one of those solutions: legislation allowing transmission to be co-located in existing right-of-way, including along the Michigan highway system.
Legislation pending in both the Michigan House (HB 5940) and Senate (SB 933), supported by the coalition’s members, would allow transmission lines to be installed longitudinally in the right-of-way of Michigan’s interstates and other limited access highways. The state’s utility accommodation policy currently prohibits this practice, but it could be a powerful tool to streamline the process of siting and permitting new transmission. That means projects can be built faster, ensuring reliable, affordable electricity for Michigan ratepayers.
“Michigan has a real opportunity to get ahead of the siting challenges that come with a major transmission expansion,” said Randy Satterfield, NextGen Highways’ executive director. “Opening highway rights-of-way to transmission co-location can give planners and communities a practical option for getting needed projects built more quickly, at lower cost, and with fewer impacts on farms, forests, and private property.”
Co-location in highway rights-of-way can make it possible to work within already disturbed corridors and, in many cases, with a single public landowner: the Michigan Department of Transportation. That can help reduce project costs while minimizing the need for development on greenfield land or the use of eminent domain. Over time, co-location can also support the building of electric vehicle charging hubs and modernized communications infrastructure alongside transportation corridors.
Michigan is looking to a changing energy future as electrification, advanced manufacturing, and other new loads push demand higher. To meet energy consumers’ needs as the state also pursues its state-level goals for the energy transition, significant new transmission lines will be needed, including projects within the long-term regional plans of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
At the same time, the Michigan Public Service Commission recently put in place reforms to its transmission siting process, including more robust public engagement processes. Innovative, straightforward approaches will be required as Michigan prepares to quickly build the transmission it needs with public support.
NextGen Highways’ work in Michigan builds on momentum in other states; earlier this year, bills supported by NextGen Highways and its coalition partners were signed into law in Virginia and Iowa. That in turn follows on similar successes in Colorado, where a law opening interstate highway rights-of-way to transmission was passed in 2025, and Minnesota, where similar legislation became law in 2024. In Wisconsin, where highway co-location has been allowed since the early 2000s, developers have worked with transportation officials to safely site hundreds of miles of high-voltage transmission in interstate right-of-way.
The Michigan coalition’s current members represent energy and environmental interests across the state. Organizations seeking to join the coalition and move forward with common-sense transmission siting policy in Michigan can visit nextgenhighways.org to learn more and inquire.
More from our coalition members:
Ben Poulson, director of state government affairs, Michigan League of Conservation Voters:
“As Michigan plans for the transmission infrastructure needed to power our future, we should start by making better use of the corridors we’ve already built. If we can place transmission lines alongside existing highways instead of cutting through farms and forests, that’s a win for communities, ratepayers, and the landscapes that make Michigan special.”
Kelly Trombley, senior director, state policy, Ceres:
“Businesses go where energy is reliable and affordable. Michigan can stay competitive by taking a practical step of streamlining transmission development by allowing high-voltage transmission lines to be co-located along existing highway rights-of-way. This is an efficient and common sense way to expand grid capacity, unlock new energy resources, and strengthen Michigan’s ability to compete for the investments and jobs of the future.”
James Gignac, Midwest policy director, Union of Concerned Scientists:
“At a time when Michigan households are facing multiple affordability crises, providing additional options to site and build transmission upgrades can lower electricity costs across the state. New power line projects approved by the regional grid operator are set to bring billions of dollars in benefits to Michigan and the Midwest, and we urge lawmakers to allow the potential use of existing infrastructure corridors to unlock more lower cost, clean electricity faster.”
Marnie Urso, senior policy director, Audubon Great Lakes:
“Building transmission lines along highways is better for birds. As we expand renewable energy to protect birds from climate impacts, siting transmission on already-cleared land reduces harm to important habitat and can help speed up permitting—allowing us to move at the pace needed to protect birds.”
Danielle Basgall, government relations manager, the Nature Conservancy in Michigan:
“Michigan’s clean energy future depends on building the transmission infrastructure needed to deliver reliable, affordable power — and doing so in a way that avoids unnecessary impacts to our lands and waters. Co-locating transmission along existing highway corridors is a practical, forward-looking solution that helps reduce pressure on natural habitats and working lands while accelerating the energy transition. The Nature Conservancy is proud to support policies that balance infrastructure needs with the protection of Michigan’s natural resources.”
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About NextGen Highways
NextGen Highways is a collaborative initiative promoting the use of highways and other existing rights-of-way as infrastructure corridors where electric transmission can be strategically and safely co-located.