State Rep. David Martin this week voted against a partisan plan to radically alter Michigan’s energy policy, voicing strong concerns that the new mandates will burden Michigan families with electricity that is more expensive and less reliable.

The plan, advanced by House Democrats after a marathon session that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning, calls for utilities to have 100% clean energy by 2040, with several other mandates that will also increase costs. The mandates are similar to those issued in California which resulted in rate hikes and frequent blackouts.

“Our electric bills are skyrocketing, our power grid is crumbling, and these unrealistic mandates just add fuel to the fire,” said Martin, R-Davison. “Instead of pushing radical ideas to make the environmental lobby happy, we should be focused on solving the real problems Michigan families are facing.”

The “clean” energy mandates under the bills would effectively ban reliable natural gas plants, with an impractical exception only if a plant incorporates expensive, rare carbon capture technology.

A forthcoming study projects that monthly electric bills could go up by more than $100 on average under the legislation, and California, which adopted similar mandates in 2018, has seen rate increases dramatically outpace national increases. California has also started to backtrack on its energy mandates after blackouts and brownouts.

Other measures approved by House Democrats would strip control away from local communities concerning the construction of large-scale solar and wind energy projects. Under House Bill 5120-5123, Martin said the Michigan Public Service Commission could force the projects on local communities with little regard for residents’ concerns, local zoning ordinances or affordability – and people would have no ability to hold the unelected commission members accountable.

“The politicians in control right now see community input as an inconvenience, but I see it as a necessity in shaping responsible zoning policies,” Martin said. “This plan fails to recognize the importance of involving local people in decisions that directly impact their lives.”

Each of the bills was ultimately approved by the House along party lines. They now move to the Senate for further consideration.

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