State Rep. Greg Alexander today expressed support for a comprehensive House energy plan that will overhaul energy production in Michigan, putting reliability and affordability first.

Beginning in 2023, Democrats in Lansing operating with majorities in the House and Senate helped enact one-size-fits-all mandates that focused on radical green energy policies and put politics over cost and performance. These rigid requirements were quickly signed into law by the governor.

“The end result of all that regulation was families and job providers paying higher rates and having a less reliable grid,” said Alexander, of Carsonville. “Michigan utilities have spent almost $5 billion on clean energy compliance and efficiency to keep up, and costs that are passed down mean the average family has $120 less every year to spend on other needs. These costs are only expected to go up in the years ahead. House Republicans voiced concerns about these plans as they moved through the Legislature. These constant rate increases that people are seeing are the result of putting all our eggs into the green energy basket instead of focusing on what hardworking people and families can afford. We need to put some common sense back into this process, and that’s what these new bills do.”

The new legislation repeals the 2023 energy mandates, allowing for a balanced energy mix for providers to deploy. The Michigan Public Service Commission would be required to evaluate energy plans based on what they cost the public and how they impact the grid, including during winter and summer months where demand is higher. If a proposal does not make power more reliable and ensure bills are affordable, it would not move forward. The plans also shut down a political scheme that allows regulators to skim money from utility bills and funnel it to advocacy groups and lobbyists who then wage legal wars to drive costs even higher.

“The transparency element of these plans is a gamechanger, and it’s all about affordability and what’s right for workers and families,” Alexander said, noting that the proposed changes by House Republicans are expected to cut energy bills by about $500 per year for every Michigan family.

House Bills 5710-5711 have been referred to the House Energy Committee.