LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Roger Victory joined Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, and several other Michigan Republican legislators in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The letter expresses strong concerns about the integrity and reliability of Michigan’s energy grid.
These concerns follow the December 2024 Long-Term Reliability Assessment produced by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The report found that over the next 10 years, energy demands will outpace energy generation, especially when considering planned power plant retirements and the transition to renewable energy resources.
“A state prone to adverse weather conditions and prolonged winters, energy failings in Michigan have dire consequences, and we write to highlight the critical concerns we have for our energy security,” the legislators wrote. “When uncertainty is introduced into the energy market, cost becomes elastic, and it is appropriate to anticipate a price increase.”
The legislators highlighted concerns resulting from radical policy changes made by Democrats in the Michigan Legislature who adopted extreme renewable energy mandates that resulted in strategic changes for Michigan energy providers, including the scheduled closure of the J.H. Campbell Power Plant. The plant is currently scheduled to shut down operations at the end of the month, even though it has years of useful life left. Closures of prominent facilities like this could lead to significant risks to reliability and security of Michigan’s energy grid.
The letter concludes with legislators thanking President Trump for his directional shift in energy policy and urging the administration to emphasize affordability, reliability and fuel diversity in its national energy policy.
“American energy independence is essential to our national security and ensures affordable, reliable energy for people and businesses here in Michigan,” said Victory, R-Hudsonville. “I look forward to working closely with the Trump administration to implement commonsense energy policy for Michigan’s future.”
The letter was signed by state Sens. Roger Victory, Mark Huizenga and Jonathan Lindsey; House Energy Committee Vice Chair Dave Prestin; and state Reps. Bradley Slagh, Rachelle Smit and Luke Meerman.
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