LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan House Energy Committee met Tuesday to hear testimony and debate on House Bill 4486, which would prohibit local units of government from imposing a ban on the use of natural gas or the installation of natural gas infrastructure.

Rep. Steve Frisbie (R-Battle Creek), who introduced the bill, said there have been attempts to ban natural gas connections and appliances in new homes throughout the nation and the state. 

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But Frisbie said using natural gas has many benefits, according to the American Gas Association:

  • Natural gas is 3.4 times more affordable than electricity.
  • A natural gas home’s annual energy bill can be roughly 49% lower than that of an all-electric home. 
  • Natural gas shows lower overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Frisbie also said House Bill 4486 is a reflection of personal freedoms.

“Who are we to tell a family how they can keep their families warm following an ice storm? Who are we to dictate how they should spend more money for more ineffective results? It’s our job to make life safer and cheaper for our neighbors and this legislation provides that,” he said.

Rep. Tonya Meyers Phillips (D-Detroit) brought up her concern that this bill will give the state too much power over local governments.

“It seems like more consumers are choosing to purchase electric stoves. And, in Michigan, approximately 55% of our consumers have electric stoves. And, nationally, it seems to be trending closer to 70%,” Phillips said. “So, if a community wants to do that [restrict the use of natural gas] and the trend is going towards electric stoves over gas stoves over time, then are we imposing our choice upon the municipalities and consumers who want to go in the direction of having the [electric] stoves?”

But Frisbie said people should have the right to choose between natural gas and electricity.

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“If you’re building a new home in some place that wants to put this [restrictions on natural gas] in place, you now have no choice,” Frisbie said. “I think you also have to come back to baseload energy in Michigan. And, while some people may be making a choice toward electricity, I wouldn’t. I personally would not, I would stay with gas, and the reason is cost and efficiency. So let people make that choice, not [the] government for them.”

Director of Energy and Environmental Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy Jason Hayes spoke on the dangers and costs of net zero in Michigan. There is no inexpensive way to meet the CO2 emission reduction targets as proposed by Michigan officials, according to Hayes.

“The more we use the unreliable and non-dispatchable weather-dependent sources, the more we’re going to see imposed costs,” Hayes said.

The House Energy Committee is expected to vote on this bill in the coming weeks.