Statement of Mike Shriberg,
Ph.D., Director of Environment Michigan:
734-662-9797
Under the guise of “balance”, Consumers Energy is proposing
a customer-funded mandate to build at least one dirty new coal plant and return
our electricity system to a monopoly. If
Consumers is granted its wish, electricity rates will rise to pay Consumers
approximately 2 billion dollars to subsidize a dirty coal plant that will
further increase Michigan’s
reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase global warming and air
pollution. This 19th Century
solution to Michigan’s 21st Century
energy needs is a bad deal for Michigan’s
economy and environment. Our elected
officials should instead chart a course toward clean, homegrown electricity
production.
Energy efficiency costs less than half than building a new
coal plant. Yet, Consumer’s uses a
worst-case scenario that goes against Michigan’s
experience and deemphasizes efficiency’s significance in its “balanced” plan. In reality, efficiency is our cleanest
resource, and it creates stable, in-state jobs.
Investments in efficiency yield four times the return for
ratepayers. Efficiency needs to be a
first priority resource, not an afterthought.
Renewable energy sources – such as biomass and wind – are also
underutilized by Consumers Energy and other utilities. Consumers proposes a 10% Renewable Energy
Standard. However, renewables are cost
effective when compared to new coal and would produce far more jobs, reduce air
and global warming pollution, and keep more money in Michigan’s ailing economy. The pending Renewable Energy Standard of 20%
by 2020 (HB4539 & SB385) would jumpstart renewable energy development in
the state, and should be supported by Consumers Energy and passed by the
Legislature.
Taken together, these investments in clean energy would
yield over 6,000 jobs and save ratepayers over $2 billion on their energy bills
by 2020. Therefore, Consumers should not
be allowed to invest ratepayer’s money into new coal before maximizing investments
in clean energy. Instead of giving
Consumers a monopoly in return for building coal plants on the backs of
captured customers, our Public Service Commission and elected officials need to
make full commitments to clean energy.
This would be better for our rates, health and environment.
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Environment Michigan is a statewide, citizen-based, non-profit,
non-partisan environmental organization.
www.environmentmichigan.org
