LANSING — Lawmakers from the Upper Peninsula are raising awareness about an administrative ruling that they say could cost rate-payers around the region.
The proposals — HB 4007 and HB 4283 — concern 13 natural gas generators that came online in 2018 to replace retiring coal plants.
Michigan’s 2023 climate law requires utility providers to adopt 100% clean energy by 2040 and pay for renewable energy credits if they’re still producing other types.
The proposals would exempt the operators of those generators from the fees, a policy that lawmakers say would avoid millions of dollars in fines.
“These types of carve-outs or recognitions, if you will, for the natural gas fired plants were allowed within the original bill in other areas of the state,” said Sen. Ed McBroom, (R) District 38, Waucedah Twp. “We’re simply asking for that to be given to the Upper Peninsula situation as well.”
The plan would also aim to keep the generators operational until 2049.
The Michigan Sierra Club pushed back against those claims, saying that utility operators were exaggerating concerns to lower their own operating costs.
The state House approved the proposed legislation earlier in the year with mostly bipartisan support — the bills could be acted on at any time by the state Senate.