LANSING, Mich. — Upper Peninsula lawmakers and union leadership will hold a press conference on Wednesday urging the Michigan state Senate to consider House Bills 4007 and 4283 to support stable and affordable energy production in the U.P.
Who:
Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township.
Rep. Karl Bohnak, R-Deerton.
Rep. Parker Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs.
Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock.
Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River.
Cleveland-Cliffs representatives.
Leadership from the United Steelworkers and other labor organizations.
What:
Lawmakers and union leadership will stand together to urge the Michigan state Senate to consider House Bills 4007 and 4283, a plan to prevent the early shutdown of the U.P.’s reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE).
When:
9 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Where:
House Republican press conference room
8th floor
Anderson House Office Building
124 N. Capitol Ave.
Lansing
Live Stream available here.
Why:
The Upper Peninsula’s 13 RICE generators were built to stabilize the area’s energy grid following the decommissioning of the Presque Isle and Shiras coal power plants in 2019. The newly constructed generators have a lifecycle through 2049 and have decreased U.P. carbon dioxide emissions by over 70%.
Without legislative intervention, new energy laws would force the RICE generators to shut down and would result in an electricity affordability crisis for the Upper Peninsula.
On Oct. 27, an administrative law judge issued a recommendation in Upper Michigan’s Energy Resource Corp.’s renewable energy plan pending before the Michigan Public Service Commission that will harm UMERC ratepayers.
The administrative law judge recommendation for 2026 and 2027 is detrimental to U.P. ratepayers. This includes residential, commercial and industrial customers, including the Cleveland-Cliffs Tilden Mine.
Collectively, the recommendation would cost UMERC customers over $10 million in additional energy charges in 2026 and nearly $13 million in 2027. If approved, the increases will begin in January.
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