House votes to roll back clean energy law, raise costs, restrict affordable clean energy

LANSING – The Michigan League of Conservation Voters today released the following statement after the state House of Representatives passed legislation to repeal the Clean Energy & Jobs Act, Michigan’s landmark clean energy legislation that is driving investment in affordable energy and creating thousands of good-paying jobs. The package, which Michigan LCV is calling “Project Lights Out,” would roll back clean energy investments, restrict rooftop solar and reduce the amount of public money available for pro-customer groups who help oppose utility rate requests. 

“At a time when energy costs are skyrocketing and Michiganders are struggling to pay their utility bills, the House voted to sabotage legislation that is pushing Michigan to invest in the cheapest, fastest energy sources available,” said Ben Poulson, state government affairs director for the Michigan LCV. “ ‘Project Lights Out’ does nothing to deliver cheaper or more reliable energy for customers while monopoly utility companies and their CEOs continue to profit. At a time when electricity demand is rapidly increasing, these bills take affordable and quickly deployable clean energy solutions off the table.”

According to a recent analysis by 5 Lake Energy, Project Lights Out would raise energy bills for Michigan families by more than $1,300 per household and cost Michigan 570,000 jobs, totaling $75 billion in lost GDP over the next 25 years.

Last fall, a number of lawmakers came together to introduce the Ratepayer Bill of Rights, which has been introduced with several bills in the House and Senate that would

• Guarantee Michiganders fair compensation when the power goes out.
  
• Stop Michigan customers from paying the highest energy costs in the Midwest for some of the worst service delivery in the country.
  
• Protect consumers from paying for CEO bonuses and private jet flights while being left in the dark.
  
• Ban political contributions to state lawmakers from DTE and Consumers – the very utilities they’re supposed to be overseeing on our behalf.
  
• Halt winter power shutoffs to homes with children and seniors.
  
• Ensure Michigan residents can generate their own reliable energy via solar arrays on their homes or with their neighbors