Bipartisan plan would bring energy freedom to U.P. residents, businesses

State Rep. Greg Markkanen today announced the Powering Michigan Forward plan, a proposal to make it easier for families and business owners throughout the Upper Peninsula to utilize clean and affordable energy resources.

Markkanen, of Hancock, said he regularly hears from residents and business owners frustrated by the astronomical price of power in the Western U.P., especially after the Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) recently raised its rates for commercial and industrial customers. He said the bipartisan Powering Michigan Forward plan will provide relief by removing bureaucratic barriers that currently deny people the freedom to generate their own renewable electricity.

“Not only will this plan give people throughout the Upper Peninsula the energy freedom they deserve, it also will support jobs in our communities and help our local economy continue its forward momentum,” Markkanen said. “Under the Powering Michigan Forward plan, residential, commercial and industrial customers will have access to clean and affordable energy options.”

Current state law allows electric utility companies to restrict the total number of energy customers who can participate in renewable energy efforts and receive credit on their utility bills for the energy their equipment generates – a practice known as distributed generation. UPPCO customers reached the 1 percent cap almost immediately after the law was enacted in 2016. During UPPCO’s recent settlement with the Michigan Public Service Commission, the utility company agreed to raise its cap to 2 percent, but the number of participants are already nearing that limit as well.

Markkanen’s legislation, House Bill 5145, eliminates the arbitrary cap and allows any customer who meets certain interconnection and equipment requirements to participate. Other measures in the plan would repeal energy accounting methods that penalize distributed generation and ensure energy producers are compensated fairly.

House Bills 5143-45 have been referred to the House Energy Committee for consideration.

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