State Rep. Matthew Bierlein today said the state must ensure energy grid reliability and affordability for consumers instead of being boxed in by restrictive green energy laws.

Bierlein applauded United States Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s recent order to pause plans to close the J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Michigan for 90 days. The plant was going to be taken offline as soon as this month.

“We must continue to recognize the importance of safeguarding American energy production,” said Bierlein, of Vassar. “We can’t let political agendas get in the way of common sense. Decisions like this are critical for people, families and small business owners who count on facilities like these for reliable and affordable energy.”

In the face of aggressive green energy mandates that set unrealistic benchmarks for power generation, Bierlein has worked at the state level for practical policies that respect people’s pocketbooks and ensure Michigan has a broad energy portfolio to protect reliability. He recently voted for a plan that would restore decision-making authority to local communities for large-scale wind and solar project siting.

Laws signed during the 2023-24 legislative term gave the unelected Michigan Public Service Commission the power to override this local authority – discarding input from residents and casting aside the critical roles of their local elected officials.

Other bills currently under consideration in the Legislature would provide tax credits for small modular nuclear reactor research, development and power use while creating grant programs so advancements in nuclear and hydrogen energy research can be made in Michigan.

Bierlein pointed to findings in a recent report by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which states that Michigan’s energy grid ranks as the highest risk grid in the nation. Michigan’s energy system operator is the country’s least reliable system operator, and the system operator’s specific region for Michigan is its least reliable region. Coupled with the new renewable energy mandates, this lack of reliability in Michigan’s energy system will cause it to be well below reference levels within ten years according to the NERC report.

“We are seeing a consistent demand for reliable energy and troubling signs that Michigan may not be able to keep up due to policies the state has undertaken,” Bierlein said. “Before we put all our eggs in the green energy basket, we must ensure grid infrastructure is sufficient and we aren’t seeing rolling outages like we have seen elsewhere when the push for renewable energy has outpaced reliable delivery.

“Michigan must be an energy leader as we work to attract jobs and residents. We can’t do that by taking reliable options off the table when there’s nothing concrete to replace it.”