LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan House wants to turn off the lights on what they call the state’s “costly and extreme renewable energy mandates.”

“Unrealistic requirements.”

This week, the GOP-led Michigan House approved House Bill 5711. It seeks to eliminate the state’s clean and renewable energy standards enacted by Democrats in 2023. Rep. Pat Outman (R-Six Lakes) said Republicans hope to make those mandates a memory.

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“The 2023 energy laws forced unrealistic requirements onto our grid without any serious concern for affordability or reliability,” Outman said. “Families are paying more every month, outages still happen, and ratepayers are left wondering where all their money is going.”

Outman cited a Mackinac Center for Public Policy study that shows the 2023 energy mandates could cost homeowners more than $2,700 each year. The mandates also increase the risk of power outages and strain the electrical grid.

“Unreliable energy sources.”

State Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) says the bill has significant impact on the Upper Peninsula. “The U.P. was not fooled by the awful green energy plan that was signed into law 3 years ago,” Prestin said. “Rising energy bills and forced transition to unreliable energy sources we’re seeing today is just the tip of iceberg,” he added.

Fellow colleague Rep. Cam Cavitt called the solution “long overdue.” He said, “Our energy policy needs to focus on delivering power to Michiganders that is both affordable and consistent. For too long, energy mandates have been preventing us from achieving either. That ends now.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) praised the energy legislation he says aligns with his plan to keep the U.P. ‘s Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators operational through the end of their lifecycle in 2049. “The House energy plan gets rid of the nonsense and ensures state regulators are only worried about keeping lights on and bills low when making energy decisions,” Bohnak said.

In addition, the approved House Bill 5710. That would require the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to prioritize reliability and affordability when approving long-term utility energy plans. The MPSC recently approved several rate hikes for Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.

The bills now head to the Democratic-led Michigan Senate.