Michigan House Republicans are pushing to exempt about a dozen natural gas generators in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) from the state’s clean energy legislation. Without this exemption, the reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE generators) would be required to either go offline or offset their greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, as part of a law mandating a clean energy transition.
State Representative Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton), who sponsors the legislation, argues that renewable energy sources like wind and solar cannot replace the power generated by these gas units without significant land use and costs. The 13 RICE generators, which replaced coal plants in the U.P. in the past decade, emit less greenhouse gas than their predecessors but still burn fossil fuels.
Representative David Prestin (R-Cedar River) expressed concern that ratepayers will bear the cost of these generators until 2049 and that renewable energy may not provide sufficient power for the region. He warned that shutting down the gas generators could lead to power shortages and increased reliance on Wisconsin transmission.
While Northern Michigan lawmakers previously attempted to create an exemption for the generators in the 2023 energy law rewrite, they were unsuccessful. Some exceptions for fossil fuel plants exist, but they typically require carbon-capture technology.
Democrats in the House are skeptical of the proposed exemption. House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) and House Democratic Floor Leader John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) emphasized the benefits of the Clean Energy and Jobs Act, stating that any policy limiting access to green energy in the U.P. is counterproductive to Michigan’s economic and environmental goals.
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