State representatives push for UP natural gas power generation

LANSING, Mich. (WLUC) — State Representatives David Prestin (R-108th State House District) and Karl Bohnak (R-109th State House District) are sponsoring bills to extend the lifetime of natural gas generators in the U.P.

Right now, there are 13 natural gas RICE generators in the U.P., including seven in Negaunee, that Prestin says make up a key part of the power grid.

These generators would be forced offline 10 years before the end of their life cycle under current renewable energy laws.

Prestin says removing these generators would have disastrous economic impacts.

“The U.P. needs time to comply,” Prestin said. “We need to be able to use the RICE generators to their cited date of 2049. And we need to give generators up here the time to comply.”

Prestin and Bohnak have introduced bills that would allow for the use of these generators through their full lifecycle.

At a meeting of the House Energy Committee Tuesday, Democrats asked how the bill would still allow the U.P. to meet clean energy standards.

“Balancing those very real concerns and also the very real need to transition to renewable energy,” Rep. Tonya Myers-Phillips (D-7th State House District) said.

Prestin says the RICE generators already reduced emissions from power generation in the U.P. by over 70%.

Bohnak says without the bills he and Prestin are proposing, U.P. industry could be threatened.

“We would lose on our heavy industry” Bohnak said. “In other words, the mines, because of the cost of electricity, would just be way out of line. We lose the mines, we lose population in the Upper Peninsula.”

The bills must now be voted on by the Michigan House Energy Committee, pass both the House and Senate, and then be signed by Governor Whitmer (D-Michigan).

It’s unclear how the Senate would vote on the legislation, as that chamber has a one-seat Democratic majority.

Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporations spoke also spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, saying building the natural gas generators has made power more affordable, reliable and sustainable in the U.P.

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