MARQUETTE, MI— The Marquette City Commission has adopted a resolution supporting bills that would allow the U.P.’s natural gas generators to operate under Michigan’s clean energy laws.
The bills are focused on Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corporation’s RICE generators. The units are bonded out until 2049, and there’s about $45 million left to pay. Lawmakers want the units classified as “clean” so customers won’t have to pay both on the bonds and for replacement energy. Michigan law requires all energy generation to be green by 2040.
At a meeting Monday night Commissioner Cody Mayer said Marquette has already decommissioned two coal-fired power plants in favor of cleaner energy, but the state wants more.
“The state is really… really loves to, especially with the U.P., have unfunded mandates. So, if the state really, really doesn’t want us to have these, then they can come pay off the debt and provide us with the energy that we need to replace it.”
In December, the Michigan Public Service Commission said the RICE generators don’t need to shut down, especially if UMERC builds renewable energy systems and storage.
