State Rep. Mike Hoadley today pushed back against a radical Democrat green energy plan that will raise costs for families, worsen grid reliability issues and strip away local input on future projects in local communities.

In her recent “What’s Next” address, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pushed for accelerated timelines to make Michigan energy production carbon-free. House Bills 4759-61 currently in the Legislature would require a 100% renewable and mostly carbon-free standard in Michigan by 2035. Senate Democrats have discussed similar legislation pushing for the costly mandates.

A soon-to-be published study by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy showed a dramatic increase in energy costs if the Democrats pass the carbon-free mandate, shutting down most of Michigan’s existing power plants. Based on the Mackinac Center’s projections, the average monthly electricity bill from now until 2050 would be nearly double the current monthly average.

“People across our region are already struggling with high costs. These plans only will tack on more,” said Hoadley, of Au Gres. “I have significant concerns about our energy grid’s stability as we rush forward too quickly with new advancements as these plans call for. These plans also will make us even more reliant on China, as many green energy components are manufactured there.

“Ultimately, this is not the right move for our state. Other states have tried this and are already having second thoughts because the implementation is not effective and it’s crushing families and small business owners on affordability. That will happen here too if these bills become law.”

Hoadley pointed to California backing away from similarly ambitious green energy targets – including mandating carbon-free electricity by 2045 – after dealing with brownouts and rolling blackouts. Wildfire smoke and cloud cover also disrupted solar capacity and caused grid reliability issues. As residents’ electricity rates soar, the state is scrambling to undo their reckless actions by reversing course and allowing several natural gas plants and their last remaining nuclear power plant to stay open.

To accelerate the carbon-free standard, the plans would shift the power to permit major solar projects from municipalities to state government – a move Hoadley said diminishes local control.

“Locals in northern Michigan know their communities better than bureaucrats in Lansing,” Hoadley said. “They are elected to make informed decisions for their communities with local input, not stand idly by while a massive wind farm people don’t want is put up at the direction of the state. These plans put a radical national energy agenda first and what’s important to people locally last.”