HOLLAND — Republican gubernatorial candidate John James spoke about his stance on Public Act 233, data centers and housing affordability during a visit to Holland Equipment Services on July 10.
James, R-Shelby Township, has represented Michigan in Congress since 2023. He previously ran and lost his bids for the U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020.
“(It’s) going to take all 10 million of us to make sure we leave a better state than we found,” James said July 10. “I’m excited for the opportunity to earn your support, to be your next governor, to submit to the lord, serve his people regardless of how you act, how you think, where you were born, your race, color or creed.”
James is squaring off against former state attorney general Mike Cox and businessman Perry Johnson on Aug. 4. At the same time, Democrats will decide between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.
“Michigan was built for more than this,” James said. “We were built for more than brokenness. We were built for more than desperation. We were built for hope.”
James said, if elected, one of his first tasks would be to repeal Public Act 233 — a relatively new state statute that allows applicants behind certain utility-scale solar, wind and battery energy storage projects to seek approval directly from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
“These are decisions that should be made at the local level, not stripped away,” James said. “Lansing should not be dictating to locals.”
James also said he’ll support conversations about data centers — provided there’s an emphasis on local control, electricity rates remain untouched, water is protected, pollution is prevented, and brownfields and blighted land are prioritized over “productive green farmland.”
“Michigan is not afraid of the future, but we demand to be a part of it,” James said. “We have to make sure that no data center (is developed) without first protecting the community and the people.”
In response to a question from The Sentinel, James said reducing restrictions is the key to righting the housing market.
“The overreach in Lansing is absolutely unbearable and is increasing your prices,” he said.
— Cassidey Kavathas is the politics and court reporter at The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at ckavathas@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on X @cassideykava.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: John James talks data centers, affordable housing in Holland
Reporting by Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cassidey Kavathas, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
