Dive Brief:
- Democrats in Michigan's House and Senate have released a set of principles to boost renewables, lure investment and business to the state, create jobs and keep utility costs affordable, MLive reports.
- The guideline's main focus is to increase Michigan’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) and energy efficiency standards.
- The guidelines would raise RPS goals to 20% by 2022, raising the current target of 10%. Efficiency standards would rise to 2%.
Dive Insight:
Michigan Democrats want to double the state's renewable standard, with a goal of drawing in investment and business to the state, creating thousands of jobs and keeping costs down. Rep. Bill LaVoy and Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood, announced the principles in a joint statement,
“Through 2014, renewable energy projects have brought nearly $3 billion in investment to Michigan, and utilities are on track to meet the 10 % goal required in current law,” LaVoy said. “As long as renewable energy remains economically viable the percentage of power generation should increase.”
According to a report from The Hill Group, an RPS increase would generate as much as $6 billion in economic activity and create tens of thousands of jobs.
“This plan is pro-business, pro-consumer and pro-environment. Michigan has the potential to be a leader in renewable energy and create thousands of jobs for hardworking men and women across the state,” Hopgood said. “That’s why it’s crucial that we act this year.”
The guidelines would forbid surcharges to consumers for meeting the new RPS target, close a loophole allowing certain corporations from accessing out-of-state energy markets unless they can demonstrate a direct need based on jobs and cost to consumers, and raise energy efficiency standards to 2%.
