LANSING, Mich. (AP) — With just days left in the two-year term, the Michigan Legislature may be inching toward votes on what’s billed as a comprehensive rewrite of state energy laws.
It’s legislation that Gov. Rick Snyder has made clear is his highest priority.
The bills have divided majority House Republicans. They would update policies that govern the regulation of utility giants and their competitors, require minimum amounts of renewable sources of electricity and set efficiency benchmarks.
The state’s two dominant utilities and major business interests are lobbying legislators to act now to ensure there’s reliable power.
Opponents say the legislation passed by the GOP-led Senate would effectively kill the law giving competitors 10 percent of the market. That would hurt companies and many schools districts that save money in the “choice” program.
