Republicans advocate for solutions to lower rates, increase reliability

State Reps. Pat Outman and Graham Filler today called upon Lansing Democrats to think about the harmful consequences their extreme energy plan will have on Michigan families.

The Democrat proposal includes the same type of radical mandates that led to soaring electric bills and frequent blackouts in California. It also strips Michiganders of the ability to provide input on large-scale energy projects in their communities by overriding local control.

“Michigan families are tired of shelling out for high electric bills and being rewarded with power outages every time it storms. That’s the problem I’m focused on solving,” said Outman, R-Six Lakes, a member of the House Energy, Communications and Technology Committee. “The Democrats in control have another agenda. They’re pushing extreme mandates that cater to the environmental lobby while sticking residents with even higher costs for less reliability.”

House Democrats have proposed House Bills 4759-4761, which would force Michigan electric companies to use entirely carbon-free power sources by 2035 prematurely closing natural gas plants.

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. Based on the Mackinac Center’s projections, the average monthly electricity bill from now until 2050 would be nearly double the current monthly average under this plan.

The Democrat plan also severely restricts nuclear power generation. Filler, who co-chairs the Legislature’s bipartisan nuclear energy caucus, said limiting the use of nuclear is a mistake.

“Nuclear power is one of the cleanest energy sources available and it provides the strong baseload generation we need to avoid blackouts,” said Filler, R-Clinton County. “The amount of energy generated by wind and solar alone is simply not enough to keep the lights on in family homes and keep small businesses and large manufacturers operating without interruption. The Democrat energy plan would cripple our state.”

Both representatives say energy is too important of an issue to be politicized. They continue to reach across the aisle to discuss the advantages of nuclear energy in Michigan.