Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently signed a comprehensive package of clean energy and climate legislation that will implement proposals in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, which laid out a roadmap for Michigan’s clean energy future.
The action commits Michigan to producing 100% of its energy from clean and renewable sources by 2040. The package authorizes the Michigan Public Service Commission to streamline permitting of utility-scale clean energy projects and to consider climate and equity in their regulatory decisions so the state can prioritize community health as it expands clean energy production. The legislation also includes provisions to improve energy efficiency and fund home upgrades that will help further drive down energy costs and improve grid reliability.
In its announcement, the state points to a report released earlier this year that estimates the clean energy package will save Michigan households an average of $145 a year in energy costs, help secure $7.8B more in federal investment from the Inflation Reduction Act, and create nearly 160,000 jobs.
In a related action, Whitmer signed an executive directive aimed at reducing emissions from the fleet of state vehicles. The order directs state agencies to begin converting vehicles owned and used by the state to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), with a goal of completing that conversion by 2033 for light-duty vehicles and 2040 for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost demand for Michigan automakers’ ZEV production, and reduce the overall costs of the state fleet.
