The Michigan House has approved a package of energy legislation from state Representative Pauline Wendzel that seeks to reduce costs and improve system reliability.
“Project Lighthouse,” or House Bills 5710 and 5711, would repeal Michigan’s 2023 green energy mandates and shift the state’s energy policy focus.
“We need to take a look at the whole picture and not focus on mandates,” Wendzel said. “More money is being spent on those and requiring filling those mandates instead of putting money into our infrastructure where it needs to be.”
Wendzel tells us the legislation would also direct the Michigan Public Service Commission to focus on reliability and affordability when considering new energy projects.
“They’d be focusing on what is affordable and reliable, and not taking subsidies and other things into consideration as well. It’s just looking through that lens.”
The legislation would eliminate a roughly $2.1 million annual surcharge on utility bills that helps fund outside advocacy groups taking part in proceedings before the MPSC.
Wendzel, who chairs the House Energy Committee, says customers simply want things to work.
“We have an aging infrastructure, and people, when they go home at night, they expect their lights to turn on.”
Wendzel says the state’s current energy policies have increased costs while failing to ensure dependability.
Project Lighthouse now moves to the Michigan Senate, which is controlled by Democrats and is less likely to approve the package. However, Wendzel says you never say never in Lansing.
