State Representative Pauline Wendzel isn’t a fan of energy legislation approved by the Michigan House Thursday.
The package of bills requires Michigan to get 100% of its energy from carbon-free sources by 2040.
Speaking on the House floor, Wendzel said this will only make the state’s electric system worse.
“Instead of fixing our aging grid, these bills will raise the rates of our Michigan families all the while destabilizing our already-unreliable grid,” Wendzel said. “Madam Speaker, based on my conversation with my electric provider, we are looking at possible a 40% to 50% energy increase just to start.”
Wendzel said this will put all of the state’s eggs in one basket, driving away manufacturers. She said we should be making the system more reliable.
“This irresponsible and thoughtless policy does the opposite. It pushes an arbitrary goal at a pace decided entirely by those that have no background, expertise, or knowledge in this complex field.”
The package defines carbon-free energy sources as solar, wind, nuclear, and hydropower. There are benchmarks the state would have to meet between now and the 2040 deadline.
Wendzel called the package “just plain bad.”
