Democrats Want to Turn the Lights Off in the Upper Peninsula

Lansing, MI – This week, Republican legislators in the House and Senate came together to defend energy generation in the Upper Peninsula. Most of the U.P.’s unique energy needs are met by Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators, which use natural gas to create clean, sustainable energy.

The Democrats’ far-left energy package from 2023 threatens to shut off those generators, effectively stopping the U.P. from producing reliable and affordable energy. If nothing changes, Lansing Democrats’ Green New Deal could cause rolling blackouts, create huge spikes in energy costs, and force local governments to spend billions of dollars on energy that is less clean and less reliable.

HBs 4007 and 4283, introduced by state Representatives Karl Bohnak and Dave Prestin, respectively, would update the law so that the U.P. can continue using existing RICE generators and avoid the catastrophic 2032 deadline imposed by Democrats. The bills are waiting to move in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

“Democrats are courting disaster with these far-left energy policies,” said Gabe Butzke, a spokesperson for Michigan Forward Network. “They either didn’t consider the impact of their Green New Deal on the Upper Peninsula, or they didn’t care. Now it’s up to Republicans in the Legislature to clean up their mess and protect affordable and reliable energy for Michigan families.”