State Rep. Jerry Neyer today voted against a radical Democrat green energy plan that will make energy less affordable for families and small business owners, threaten grid reliability and limit local authority.

Plans advanced through the House call for utilities to have 100% clean energy by 2040, with several other mandates that will also increase costs. The mandates are similar to those issued in California that resulted in rate hikes and widespread blackouts.

A recent analysis published from the Mackinac Center disclosed that a net zero energy plan could cost Michigan rate payers upwards of $200 billion overall in additional energy costs.

“This policy puts a national agenda first instead of the needs of Michigan families,” said Neyer, of Shepherd. “I have talked with many people who take issue with the rising costs they’re seeing everywhere from the grocery store to the gas station. Now they’re seeing these bills that will make it more costly to cook and heat their homes – with less reliability than an energy grid that already has issues.

“This is simply the wrong approach for our state.”

Other measures approved by House Democrats would strip control away from local communities concerning the construction of large-scale solar and wind energy projects. Under these plans, the unelected Michigan Public Service Commission could force the projects on local communities with little regard for residents’ concerns, and people would have no ability to hold the unelected commission members accountable.

“To accommodate this massive shift to renewable energy, state government is going to lean on rural areas to house this technology even if rural communities don’t want these types of projects in their backyard,” Neyer said. “Stripping away local control sets a dangerous precedent. Voices in many communities have been clear on this issue, and it’s not right that the state is choosing to disregard them anyway.”

Each of the bills were ultimately approved by the House along party lines. The legislation pertaining to siting, House Bills 5120 and 5121, now advance to the Senate for further consideration. Senate Bills 271, 273 and 502, which contain the clean energy mandates, will soon be presented to the governor for her expected signature.