This proposal would leave Michigan families paying more for less reliable power
Lansing, MI – Michigan energy experts, consumer advocates, health professionals, and business leaders today voiced opposition to legislation announced in the Michigan House that would weaken the state’s historic 2023 clean energy laws. The laws are already helping Michigan reduce long-term energy costs, improve grid reliability, and increase transparency at a time when residents are paying higher bills, experiencing more frequent outages, and seeing electricity demand rise.
The draft legislation proposes changes to Michigan’s clean energy and energy waste reduction plan and revisions to Public Service Commission oversight provisions that energy experts say would remove important guardrails designed to protect ratepayers.
“Michiganders want affordability and accountability, not these rollbacks that are disguised as reform. Our high energy burdens stem from long-standing utility performance issues, not clean energy. Clean energy remains the most affordable new power available today, and outdated sources are becoming increasingly expensive for families. We need to preserve the 2023 Clean Energy Laws and ensure stronger oversight so rate hikes actually improve our grid, not pad corporate payouts,” said Alexis Blizman, Legislative & Policy Director of Ecology Center.
Consumer advocates emphasized that the proposal does nothing to address the real drivers of rising utility bills. Over the past year alone, utilities have requested or received more than a billion dollars in rate increases while residents continue to experience service disruptions and reliability challenges.
Research and regulatory analysis show that some of the most effective tools for controlling energy costs are programs that reduce energy waste. Michigan’s energy efficiency and Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) programs saved customers roughly $1 billion in electricity costs last year, according to state regulatory data. Weakening those standards would eliminate one of the state’s most proven strategies for lowering household energy bills.
“When energy systems fail or costs rise, the harm is felt most by communities that have historically been left out of energy decision-making. Michigan’s clean energy laws begin to shift that dynamic by strengthening oversight and serving the public’s interest with more affordable, reliable electricity. Weakening these protections would deepen existing inequities and move the state away from a more just and resilient energy future,” said Dr. Denise M. Keele, Executive Director of Michigan Climate Action Network.
Clean energy solutions like wind, solar, battery storage, and energy efficiency help reduce long-term costs, while outdated fossil fuel facilities have become increasingly expensive and contribute to unhealthy and unsafe conditions for communities.
Supporters of this legislation have suggested that clean energy policies are contributing to rising electricity costs. Yet, wind and solar are among the cheapest sources of new energy generation available.
“Rolling back Michigan’s 2023 energy laws would be a direct hit on working families. These policies don’t just lower costs — they create jobs and help Michigan unlock more energy to meet growing demand. Repealing them now couldn’t come at a worse time. It would mean higher bills, less energy when we desperately need it, and fewer opportunities for Michigan workers. At a time when federal mismanagement is straining energy supply, Michigan must stay the course. Families deserve affordable, dependable energy and good-paying clean energy jobs — not policy whiplash,” said Courtney Brady, Evergreen Action State Advocacy Director.
Michigan’s current clean energy plan was designed to ensure the state can meet growing electricity demand while maintaining strong oversight of utility spending. The current laws support a diverse mix of energy resources, giving regulators multiple cost-effective options to maintain reliable service.
Rolling back clean energy standards would slow deployment of these cost-saving resources and make it harder for Michigan to meet rising energy demand. Businesses and local governments rely on predictable energy costs and reliable service when planning for the future. Michigan's clean energy laws provide that certainty by modernizing the grid and supporting long-term planning as the state meets rising demand, without shifting higher costs onto residents.
Energy experts say lawmakers should instead focus on policies that strengthen accountability for utility spending, expand access to cost-saving energy solutions, and ensure Michigan’s power system remains reliable and affordable for the future.
“When energy prices rise, it is local households and small businesses that feel it first. Michigan’s clean energy laws are reining in utility costs and saving Michiganders money on their utility bills. Weakening these laws would see Michigan’s electric rates go even higher at a time when affordability matters most,” said Charlotte Jameson, Chief Policy Officer of Michigan Environmental Council.
"Michigan’s clean energy laws were passed to protect ratepayers, cut pollution, and position our state as a leader in the clean energy economy. Attempts to weaken these laws would undermine the progress we’ve made and risk locking Michiganders into more expensive and polluting energy sources. The focus should be on building a cleaner, more affordable energy system, not turning back the clock," said Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Director, Michigan Sierra Club
“We work directly with families and communities who are already having to choose between paying their energy bills and covering other basic needs. Michigan’s clean energy laws help reduce wasted energy in homes and keep costs from climbing even higher. Rolling these protections back would hit households hardest where energy bills already take up too much of a family’s budget,” said Briana DuBose, Executive Director of EcoWorks.
“Low-income communities and neighborhoods that have long faced higher pollution levels are the first to feel the impacts of rising energy costs and the last to see improvements when the grid fails — all which contribute significantly to negative health outcomes. The 2023 clean energy laws protect human health by giving these residents a real chance at cleaner air, lower long-term costs, and a more reliable energy system. Weakening them would reinforce the inequities that have shaped Michigan’s energy landscape for generations,” said Teresa Homsi, Executive Director of Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action.
“Michigan residents deserve energy policies that lower costs and hold utilities accountable. Michigan’s clean energy transition is about building a system that works for people, not just utilities. Rolling back these laws would make it harder to lower costs, improve reliability, and ensure that residents have a real voice in how our energy system is shaped,” said Shimekia Nichols, Executive Director of Soulardarity.
The following organizations also signed onto this statement:
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Clinicians for Climate Action
Michigan Climate Action Network
EcoWorks
Great Lakes Business Network
Elevate
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light
Sierra Club
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter
Michigan League of Conservation Voters