Lansing – Leadership Council members of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum (MCEF) all had the following supportive statements to make about Governor Snyder’s Clean Power Plan announcement:
Read MoreThe Environmental Protection Agency is expected soon to issue its final Clean Power Plan rules for existing power plants. The goal is to slash carbon pollution by 30 percent or more nationwide by 2030.
As part of this effort, each state is being given a year to design a compliance plan best suited to its situation. States may use a combination of renewable power, energy efficiency, increased efficiency at existing coal plants and natural gas development. Under the draft rules, Michigan is expected to reduce its emissions by 31 percent in the next 15 years.
The good news for Michigan is that we have a burgeoning solar industry that is ready to help our state meet the requirements. In recent years, Michigan's renewable sector has already seen tremendous growth, with more than an estimated 82,600 jobs in renewable power industries, energy efficiency and other conservation services. Our state's renewable energy sector is also delivering significant economic benefits, attracting $2.2 billion in new investment.
Read MoreLANSING– Members of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum (MCEF) today called on State Senator Mike Nofs, chair of the Senate Energy and Technology Committee, to take bolder action in advancing Michigan’s clean energy future, saying ratepayers deserve accountability from their utility companies.
Read MoreIn March, Gov. Rick Snyder announced his support for a 10-year clean energy plan with 30 to 40 percent of Michigan’s energy needs met through a combination of new renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts. We support expansion of clean energy policies because it will help create new jobs, increase investments, and establish a resilient electric grid. Recent analysis commissioned by the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum finds that a new 20 percent RES proposal would generate an additional $6 billion in economic activity and create 40,000 jobs. Cutting energy waste has also generated billions of dollars in savings for Michigan’s energy users, while simultaneously making our state more economically competitive.
Read MoreWhen it comes to energy, Michigan is at a crossroads. Our clean energy policy expires this year and several coal plants are slated to close. Legislators are currently debating Michigan's energy future. Rather than sitting on the sidelines or getting in the way, conservatives are leading the charge to rein in rising energy costs while transitioning Michigan away from coal and toward clean, renewable energy like wind, solar, hydro and more.
Read More"The vantage point we take [on energy] has three main platforms: jobs and the economy; national security ... and then natural resources and health."
—Larry Ward of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum
Looking at the makeup of politics in Michigan, any time a Republican would step out and try something on energy — especially from a renewable or clean side — they felt like they were kind of catering to the left. There is plenty of environmental people that will talk about that, but there wasn’t a group of core conservatives doing it.
Not only that, but the vantage point we take has three main platforms: jobs and the economy; national security or grid security or what we call energy independence; and then natural resources and health, or what we like to call, ‘What is the legacy we are leaving for our children and grandchildren?’ That’s our realm and the world we work within.
Read MoreThe Michigan Conservative Energy Forum (MCEF) recently held its first annual Catalyst Conference in Lansing. Greening of the Great Lakes' Russ White was in attendance to hear what some of attendees had to say about this year's spotlight issue - Michigan's energy security.
The effort is to make Michigan's transition to clean, renewable energy sources as smooth as possible. Retired four-star U.S. Air Force general and chairman of CNA Corporation's Military Advisory Board, Ronald Keys, identifies climate change as a national security threat.
Read MoreLANSING, MI – Governor Rick Snyder tonight paved the way for conservatives to reclaim the energy debate in his annual State of the State address, members of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum (MCEF) said.
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