Rep. Smit today expressed opposition to energy mandates approved by House Democrats this week, which would strip control from local communities and increase utility bills by $200 a month on average.

In addition to costly, Smit says the carbon neutrality plan is irresponsible and rushed. The plan also circumvents local control by giving the Michigan Public Service Commission – a three-member board appointed by the governor – the authority to permit large solar and wind construction.

Smit said the policies outlined in House Bills 5120-21 are far too extreme and give the people of Michigan zero ability to hold the commission accountable.

“Local governments in rural communities like ours have worked hard at drafting zoning ordinances and master plans based on what their local residents’ want,” Smit said. “Establishing the MPSP simply gives Gov. Whitmer the tools she needs to work around the decisions of local governments so she can advance her Big Solar agenda.”

Senate Bill 271 exponentially increases the state’s existing renewable energy standard that was laid out in a bipartisan plan in 2016. Currently, the energy standard is set at 15%, but the partisan plan approved today would increase the standard more and more over the coming years, ultimately spiking it to 60% by 2033.

Additionally, the bill requires providers to meet a new clean energy standard of 80% by 2035 and 100% by 2040. The bill defines clean energy as energy generated without emitting greenhouse gas or being fueled by natural gas.

The plan’s timeline is unrealistic and will be costly to achieve, leading to significantly increased energy costs for Michigan families and job providers. One study estimates a 96% increase in consumer rates and a 142% increase in commercial rates under the Democrats’ proposed timeline.

“The people I represent cannot afford yet another huge household cost increase – where does it end?” Smit said. “Democrats aren’t thinking through the implications of this plan and the fact is that families and job providers will be footing the bill for this careless and needlessly expedited plan.”

Michigan’s two largest utilities, DTE and Consumers Energy, have already set goals to achieve net zero carbon emissions without government mandates. Consumers Energy set its goal to 2040, and DTE to 2050.  Consumers Energy plans to shut down all coal-fired plants by 2025, while DTE plans to close its last coal plant in 2032.

Smit and other Republicans have said a better plan would be to supplement existing natural gas plants with new nuclear power plants, which would be far less expensive than the current proposal whiles still decreasing pollution with greater reliability.

Experts estimate that an entirely carbon-free grid powered by wind and solar will see blackouts of up to 61 hours in the winter when sunlight and winds are low.

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