Michigan utilities announced an agreement last week to increase renewable energy portfolios — 50 percent clean energy goal by 2030 — in exchange for the Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan group halting their effort to get an initiative increasing Michigan’s renewable energy mandate on the November General Election ballot.

The commitment of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy to this effort will be added to the Integrated Resource Plans each will file with the Public Service Commission.

“MMA is pleased that an agreement has been reached to avoid a statewide energy mandate through a November ballot proposal which would have guaranteed increased energy costs on Michigan ratepayers,” said Mike Johnston, MMA vice president of government affairs. “We believe the energy sources should be selected through the Public Service Commission to ensure the selection is the lowest cost option that provides the greatest reliability for energy customers. Mandates rarely achieve those goals.”

The new agreement builds upon legislation signed into law in 2016 which set a goal of 15 percent renewable energy generation by 2021. The proposal by Clean Energy, Healthy Michigan would have increased the standard to 18 percent by 2022 with regular increases up to a standard of 30 percent by 2030.

This article originally appeared in the 5/21/18 issue of MFG Voice.

Contact Mike Johnston

Vice President of Government Affairs
Call 517-487-8554
E-mail johnston@mimfg.org