The process established by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012 to obtain input from interested parties on energy policy has been completed and will result in an energy address from Snyder this month.
The series of four policy reports on Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Customer Choice and Additional Areas, can be accessed at michigan.gov/energy. On behalf of its member co-ops, MECA has filed or joined industry comments on all of the reports except electric customer choice, says Art Thayer, MECA energy efficiency programs director, who took the lead in drafting the comments.
Once the governor delivers his address and policy recommendations, the real question becomes, “What will the Michigan Legislature do, and when?” explains Susan Schlaybaugh, MECA’s lobbyist. “I believe it will be very difficult for the Legislature to enact major energy policy changes in 2014 for the primary reason that it is an election year. For example, enacting a higher Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) or greater energy efficiency standards would be a heavy lift. However, time will tell, as discussions will commence early in 2014 on these issues by both the House and Senate Energy & Technology committees.”
