As severe weather events mount, Michigan lawmakers say climate legislation is overdue

Adverse weather events — from an ice storm knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders to Canadian wildfires leading to Detroit having among the worst air quality in the world for a time — have sparked state policymakers' unveiling of new, climate-focused legislation they say is long overdue and necessary for protecting Michigan's environment and residents.

A group of House Democrats, joined by officials from climate action advocacy groups, announced a series of forthcoming proposals Wednesday, some of which have also been introduced in the Senate, including:

• New carbon emission standards, including making Michigan carbon-neutral for electricity generation by 2035.

• Expanding access to alternative energy sources, like community solar projects.

• Directing utility companies to provide more energy-efficiency programs for low-income customers.

• Requiring state regulators to hold public hearings in communities affected by adverse weather events.

• Increasing energy waste reduction standards for electric and natural gas providers.

Some of the goals targeted by the new legislation were outlined in the MI Healthy Climate Plan unveiled last year by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. But while Whitmer's plan called for carbon neutrality by 2050, lawmakers are accelerating that goal, pointing to 2035 as a target for a zero-emission standard. A bill outlining a carbon-free standard by 2035 was also introduced in the state Senate earlier this year.

In terms of energy production, carbon neutrality generally means getting carbon emissions as close to zero as possible, and then using various "offsets" — projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as planting trees or increased efficiencies at power plants — to address the remainder.

Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, said her proposal would create new standards for Michigan's renewable energy generation in the years leading up to 2035 — from 2027 to 2029, the state's standard for renewable energy usage would be 40%, rising to 60% by 2030 before the ultimate goal of a carbon-free energy standard by 2035.

Lawmakers say it's past time for policy action on climate change, pointing to recent weather events that have affected the state.

"This is truly a pivotal moment in Michigan's future as it relates to energy," said Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids. Hood has introduced legislation to facilitate the creation of community solar facilities and reserve a portion of the energy produced by the facilities for low-income households and community organizations.

"Thanks to an influx of funding from the federal government that can now go towards clean energy and green infrastructure, we have a unique opportunity to build out a solar, very low-cost state," Hood added, referencing the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2022, which establishes tax credits for residents and businesses who seek to switch to solar.

Earlier in June, the air quality index (AQI) reached levels considered unsafe for the general public after smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south and blanketed parts of Michigan, most evidently in Detroit. At one point, Detroit had the second-worst AQI among the world's major cities, better than only New Delhi, India.

Hot, dry conditions at the start of June also contributed to a 2,400-acre wildfire in Crawford County, near Grayling, Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials said.

And at the other end of the thermometer, a severe ice storm in late February left around 700,000 Michigan customers without power between the state's two major electric utilities. The outage lasted days for many of those residents. The world's changing climate is a contributing factor to extreme weather events, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Detroit-based DTE Energy CEO Jerry Norcia has said the company expects to have to deal with multiple severe weather events annually.

Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, noted that for many, losing power for consecutive days meant losing groceries and breastmilk without a working refrigerator, as well as access to necessary medical equipment. Pohutsky said her legislation would require the Michigan Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities in the state, to hold hearings in communities affected by power outages.

Lawmakers say the bills were crafted to ensure that low-income and marginalized groups in Michigan receive a "just" outcome as the state shifts toward a carbon-neutral future. Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, said his bill would require electricity and natural gas providers to spend portions of their energy-efficiency programs on low-income communities, specifically.

Additionally, Aiyash said as utility companies expand their workforces to meet new renewable energy generation demands, his legislation would encourage them to place a focus on hiring individuals from low-income communities, which are typically associated with higher energy costs.

"These changes will increase efficiency, affordability and accessibility for Michigan's utility customers while also ensuring that we are creating good paying jobs across the state as we move to a cleaner and more just Michigan," Aiyash said.

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Should lawmakers be able to advance any of the proposed zero-emission standards, Michigan would have some of the most aggressive carbon neutrality goals in the U.S. Only Rhode Island, with a carbon-free goal of 2033, would have a faster zero-emissions target, according to the Clean Energy States Alliance.

Some Republican lawmakers have criticized the carbon-free goal — House Energy, Communications and Technology Minority Vice Chair Pauline Wendzel, R-Watervliet, said in an April statement that moving to a completely carbon neutral standard by 2035 would be too quick to meet Michigan's current energy demands. But Democratic majorities in both chambers could render GOP opposition to any climate-related legislation ineffective.

While carbon neutrality bills in either chamber are yet to receive formal committee hearings, some proposals related to climate change are moving through the Legislature — on Wednesday, the Senate voted 20-18 to send money generated by air pollution fines to the communities affected by said pollution. The bill, which still has to be taken up the House, would also direct the Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment to identify these "environmental justice communities."

Keith Matheny contributed with prior reporting.

Contact Arpan Lobo: alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Carbon neutral energy by 2035? Democrats in Michigan propose new goal