MARQUETTE, MI— The Marquette City Commission approved a resolution Monday night supporting a bill that would classify the Upper Peninsula’s natural gas generators as green energy.
The bill sponsored by Representative Karl Bohnak would exempt 13 reciprocating internal combustion engines—or RICE generators—from shutting down or changing operations to cancel out greenhouse gases.
State law requires all energy generation to be green by 2040.
Commissioner Michael Larson said while he doesn’t consider the generators to be clean energy like wind and solar, they play an important role in the transition to greener power.
“I will support this because it’s a pragmatic step forward and it acknowledges the investments that we’ve already made while continuing to push forward for more cleaner energy solutions in the future.”
The units are bonded out until 2049. Larson said the bill would prevent customers from paying for two sources of generation to get their power.
