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Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of Michigan

Appears in 2 stories

Born: 1971 (age 54 years), Lansing, MI
Party: Democratic Party
Previous offices: Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate (2011–2015), Member of the Michigan Senate (2006–2015), Michigan State Representative (2003–2006), and more
Spouse: Dr. Marc Mallory (m. 2011)
Parents: Sherry Whitmer and Richard Whitmer
Office: Governor of Michigan

Notable Quotes

"Enbridge has imposed on the people of Michigan an unacceptable risk of a catastrophic oil spill." — Whitmer, November 2020 revocation announcement

"With these bills, we're lowering costs, protecting public health, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and ensuring Michigan leads on clean energy." — Statement at signing ceremony, November 2023

Stories

Enbridge Line 5 pipeline shutdown fight

Rule Changes

Executive driver of shutdown effort

Two 20-inch oil pipelines have been pumping crude under the Straits of Mackinac since 1953. Michigan has spent seven years trying to shut them down. On April 22, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the company defending the pipelines—Canadian operator Enbridge—gets to fight that battle in federal court, not the state courthouse Michigan picked.

Updated Apr 22

Michigan's renewable energy siting law shifts power from townships to state regulators

Rule Changes

Signed PA 233 into law; facing legislative and legal pushback

For decades, Michigan townships held sole authority over whether utility-scale solar farms and wind turbines could be built on local land. That ended in November 2023, when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Public Act 233, giving the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) the power to approve large renewable energy projects when local zoning rules are stricter than state standards. Now, nearly two years in, the law has moved from political fight to operational reality: the MPSC is reviewing five project applications across the state, local governments are filing lawsuits and ballot petitions, and counties like Huron are writing new ordinances designed to stay just compatible enough with state rules to keep their seat at the table.

Updated Feb 20