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Legislative Priorities-Energy
ISSUE:
Safe, Reliable and Affordable Energy
CHAMBER MEMBERS ADVOCATE:
- Supporting action by the State of Michigan to eliminate rate subsidization
by industrial and commercial customers.
- Continuing support of customer choice and competition in the electric and
gas markets as a tool to provide lower costs to customers.
- Evaluating the economic impact and results of electric restructuring in
Michigan by examining the effectiveness of Public Act 141 in achieving the original
goals of: ensuring all retail customers in the state have choice of electric
suppliers, diversifying ownership of electric generation, ensuring reliable
electric power at a reasonable rate, improving opportunities for economic development,
and promoting financially healthy and competitive utilities in this state.
- Supporting efforts to ensure that Michigan maintains a reliable supply of
power in the future by encouraging the development of new generating facilities
and upgrades to transmission facilities, found to be cost-effective and needed
by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), after input from interested
parties and consideration of alternative approaches such as energy efficiency
and conservation.
- Supporting new incentives and reducing regulatory barriers to promote the
new generation of renewable energy. With the right mix of incentives and regulatory
relief, Michigan could significantly increase the amount of renewable energy
produced in the state. Policymakers should avoid arbitrary or impractical alternative
fuel or renewable energy mandates that increase the cost of energy and distort
markets.
- Encouraging practical cost-effective energy management and efficiency programs.
Effective energy efficiency programs have the potential to provide customers
continued reliable energy without significantly increasing costs. Energy efficiency
should include reviews of appliance and equipment standards, model building
codes, peak management response programs, smart metering technology, and operational
practices and measures. Energy efficiency programs must be implemented without
any inter or intra class subsidies.
- Supporting federal action to enhancing the viability of nuclear energy production
by adopting legislation to enhance the management and disposal of used nuclear
fuel and high-level radioactive waste, and to ensure the territorial integrity
and security of the repository at Yucca Mountain.
WHY?
A comprehensive long-term energy plan that addresses Michigan’s energy needs
including construction of new generation, upgrades of transmission, energy efficiency,
and renewable energy should be developed and implemented to help secure our future.
As a northern industrial state with over 10 million residents, the availability,
reliability, and cost of energy for Michigan’s homeowners and job providers is a
key factor in terms of our present and future economic growth.
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