Advocacy News – January 6, 2021
Last week, the Michigan Public Service Commission approved requests by DTE and Consumers Energy to provide special, lower rates for high-volume industrial customers in an effort to ensure Michigan can compete with other states when companies are searching for sites to locate and build facilities for producing electric vehicles, related components including batteries and semiconductors, and other advanced manufacturing.
Consumers Energy, in its application (Case No. U-21160), said the company is aware of ten projects that are actively considering locating in Michigan, representing nearly $65 billion in potential investment and about 21,000 new jobs.
The Commission also approved DTE Electric’s application to implement a new XL High Load Factor rate (Case No. U-21163) to offer competitive rates to new advanced manufacturers or existing manufacturers, such as auto companies shifting their product lines to support the growing demand for electric vehicles.
While there were initial concerns around cost of service impacts for other businesses from the proposals, the Michigan Chamber supported the concept after being assured that wouldn’t be the case. “The disruption in sectors upon which Michigan’s employers and workforce relies heavily is unprecedented, as too are the opportunities to turn those challenges into new growth for the state,” said Michael P. Alaimo, Director of Environmental and Energy Affairs for the Chamber. The proposals, he said, “will be important tools in supporting new investment into jobs and the economy.”
To learn more, please contact Mike Alaimo at malaimo@michamber.com.