Advocacy News – June 22, 2023
House and Senate committees of both the Michigan House and Michigan Senate each held hearings this week on their respective packages of legislation that would move the state toward ambitious clean energy goals. While the bills vary between the two legislative bodies, both would drastically increase the renewable energy standard for the Great Lakes State, mutually setting a goal of 60% renewable energy by 2030, and 100% by 2035.
Similarly, both packages would:
- Increase energy waste and reduction performance metrics and requirements.
- Expand the Michigan Public Commission’s scope of authority to include environmental justice, equity and the public interest as factors that must be considered when deciding the merits of a utility’s rate case.
MI Chamber’s Position
The MI Chamber worked with other business industry leaders to voice concerns regarding the bill packages as currently written. When considering ways to encourage Michigan’s clean energy transition, the coalition instead supports principles that are predictable and transparent, outcome-based, and promote reliability and affordability. For the full list of concerns and principles, view the submitted memo.
While the MI Chamber clearly acknowledges that renewable energy is an increasingly important component of the state’s energy portfolio, it is also critical that energy policy match on-the-ground realities with what is economically reasonable and technologically feasible. Importantly, this also means that energy policy considerations need to equally prioritize and address reliability and affordability to all rate classes: residential, commercial and industrial.
What’s Next?
Based on conversations with bill sponsors before and after the committee meetings, it appears that work groups will take place over the summer to discuss and address concerns from stakeholders. The MI Chamber will be actively engaged in this process and ensuring that the voice of the business community is heard as this important issue moves forward.
For questions or more information, contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.