Are Michigan’s mobile home parks next in line for energy efficiency protection?

LANSING, MI – Michigan’s trailer parks could become the next battleground for protecting energy efficiency.

Previously, the state had just introduced energy-saving measures for homeowners living under regulations imposed by homeowners associations.

The Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act, which takes effect this October, is the latest energy reform to be enshrined in state law, starting with last year’s standard to generate 100% clean energy by 2040.

This recent change in the law prevents HOAs from preventing their members from installing a wide range of energy efficiency measures on their homes, from rooftop solar panels and home charging stations for electric vehicles to clotheslines and rain barrels.

“I am not naive enough to believe that this alone will solve the energy crisis, but I think it is a small step in the right direction,” said Puri state MP Ranjeev (Democratic, Canton), who sponsored the bill.

Officials said trailer park residents may be able to receive similar legal protections.

“For mobile homes and trailer parks, it would depend on the bylaws how they are set up. So I’m certainly not opposed to looking into that,” Puri said.

More research is needed, he said.

Some trailer parks in Michigan maintain rules that prevent certain energy efficiency measures — such as the use of clotheslines and rain barrels — or require fees or inspections for the installation of rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps, energy-efficient windows and the like.

The newly passed law also prohibits HOAs from charging such fees for the installation of energy-efficient equipment, and prohibits them from requiring post-installation reports or monitoring homeowners’ energy usage.

State officials said this could be significant for Michigan’s mobile home parks because it is important to ensure that federal energy efficiency grants for low-income households are available to anyone who qualifies.

Kara Cook, Whitmer’s top climate and energy strategist, noted that Michigan is receiving $156 million from the federal government this year to reduce the cost of solar systems for low-income households.

The Solar for All program provides support for financing rooftop solar panels, community solar projects and energy storage measures, as well as home upgrades such as roof repairs that enable households to use solar energy.

This influx of federal funds has already sparked discussions with leaders in the mobile home industry in Michigan, Cook said.

“We’ve been in touch with various associations that represent these groups and want to make sure that their residents can also benefit from things like ‘Solar for All.’ So maybe that’s a conversation that should be had,” she said.

John Lindley, president and chief operating officer of the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association, said he would not comment on potential legislation that does not yet exist, particularly because there can be significant differences between different types of housing in mobile home communities.

“The difference between, for example, owner-occupied homes in a manufactured housing development and owner-occupied homes that are owned by the development. So do these restrictions apply across the board or just to owner-occupied homes? There are far too many moving parts and variables for me to comment on that,” Lindley said.

According to the state licensing and regulation agency, there are 1,033 licensed mobile home parks in Michigan.

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