Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the House on December 6, 2007, to mandate that Michigan electric utilities acquire 4 percent of their power from "renewable" sources by the end of 2012, and 10 percent by the end of 2015. The mandate would be reduced to the extent it increased residential rates by more than $3 per month, and on commercial customers from $15.83 to $187.50 per month. Utilities could meet the mandate by producing or purchasing renewable energy, or purchasing "credits" from a firm that exceeded the mandate. The provisions creating this regime are divided between this and House Bill 5548

The vote was 82 in favor, 21 opposed and 7 not voting

(House Roll Call 299 at House Journal 35)

Click here to view bill details.

Rep. Sheen, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I cannot support House Bill 5524 (and related bills). These bills will severely hurt consumer competition in the electric industry, which in turn will drive up costs. By supporting these bills we will be allowing DTE and Consumer’s Energy to be guaranteed a certain number of customers, which is what a monopoly. Due to the horrible condition of our economy, Michigan residents are already dealing with economic difficulties. These house bills will ultimately limit consumer choice, raise electric rates, and monopolize the electric system. Though establishing an energy efficiency program in Michigan is an admirable goal, the proposed house bills are not the best route to achieve this. Having been a financial advisor for twenty years, private capitol is raised through venture capitol and issuances of stocks and bonds. Our entire capitalistic system is biased on this. Why should the state of Michigan have to promise Consumers and DTE anything when they can do the same thing that every other private company does to raises capitol to build a new facility which will generate a profit. Government should not pick winners and losers, they should not pick one energy company over another, and they should stay out of the market place! This is also a mandate requiring our industries to meet various renewable standards by specific dates. I support renewable energy, but I do not support mandates, I support incentives. We do not need to increase the cost or the difficulty of doing business in Michigan, these provisions most definitely will. For these reasons, I will not support the proposed energy bills.”

Rep. Agema, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: This country was built on competition and free market. A monopoly never reduces costs. I support nuclear, renewable, solar etc as part of a goal but not a mandate that requires consumers to pay higher bills at a time we are in a recession. The free market always gives the best price.”

Rep. McDowell, under Rule 31, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I did not vote on Roll Call No. 299 because of a possible conflict of interest.”

Rep. Agema, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: This country was built on competition and free market. A monopoly never reduces costs. I support nuclear, renewable, solar etc as part of a goal but not a mandate that requires consumers to pay higher bills at a time we are in a recession. The free market always gives the best price.”

Rep. Nitz, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I voted against this bill because it mandates that there must be a certain amount of ‘green energy’ produced, and I am against mandating anything. If it is cost effective the market would be providing green energy.”

Rep. McDowell, under Rule 31, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I did not vote on Roll Call No. 300 because of a possible conflict of interest.”

Rep. Nitz, having reserved the right to explain his protest against the passage of the bill, made the following statement: “Mr. Speaker and members of the House: I voted against this bill because it mandates that there must be a certain amount of ‘green energy’ produced, and I am against mandating anything. If it is cost effective the market would be providing green energy.”

2007 House Bill 5549 (Impose “renewable energy” mandates on utilities ) (House Roll Call 300) Passed in the House (84 to 21) on April 17, 2008. [History, Amendments & Comments] The vote was 84 in favor, 21 opposed, and 5 not voting (House Roll Call 300 at House Journal 35) [Comment on this vote | View others' comments] Vote Support Oppose Not Voting Undecided Legislators (Democrat) 91% 0% 8% 58 total votes Legislators (Republican) 59% 40% 0% 52 total votes Voters 50% 50% 0% 2 total votes What do you think? Support Oppose Undecided (logon required) The following legislators supported 2007 House Bill 5549 (Impose “renewable energy” mandates on utilities ): Accavitti (D) Angerer (D) Ball (R) Bauer (D) Bieda (D) Booher (R) Brown (D) Byrnes (D) Byrum (D) Calley (R) Caswell (R) Caul (R) Cheeks (D) Clack (D) Clemente (D) Condino (D) Constan (D) Corriveau (D) Coulouris (D) Dean (D) Dillon (D) Donigan (D) Ebli (D) Farrah (D) Gaffney (R) Gillard (D) Gonzales (D) Green (R) Griffin (D) Hammel (D) Hammon (D) Hansen (R) Hildenbrand (R) Hood (D) Hopgood (D) Horn (R) Hune (R) Jackson (D) Johnson (D) Jones, Rick (R) Jones, Robert (D) Knollenberg (R) Lahti (D) LaJoy (R) Law, David (R) Law, Kathleen (D) LeBlanc (D) Leland (D) Lemmons (D) Lindberg (D) Marleau (R) Mayes (D) Meadows (D) Meisner (D) Melton (D) Meltzer (R) Miller (D) Moore (R) Moss (R) Nofs (R) Opsommer (R) Palsrok (R) Pastor (R) Pearce (R) Polidori (D) Proos (R) Rocca (R) Sak (D) Schuitmaker (R) Shaffer (R) Sheltrown (D) Simpson (D) Smith, Alma (D) Smith, Virgil (D) Spade (D) Tobocman (D) Vagnozzi (D) Valentine (D) Walker (R) Ward (R) Warren (D) Wenke (R) Wojno (D) Young (D) The following legislators opposed 2007 House Bill 5549 (Impose “renewable energy” mandates on utilities ): Acciavatti (R) Agema (R) Amos (R) Brandenburg (R) Casperson (R) DeRoche (R) Elsenheimer (R) Emmons (R) Garfield (R) Hoogendyk (R) Huizenga (R) Meekhof (R) Moolenaar (R) Nitz (R) Palmer (R) Pavlov (R) Robertson (R) Sheen (R) Stahl (R) Stakoe (R) Steil (R) The following legislators did not vote on 2007 House Bill 5549 (Impose “renewable energy” mandates on utilities ): Bennett (D) Cushingberry (D) Espinoza (D) McDowell (D) Scott (D)