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Opinion | Five solutions to make Michigan energy more affordable
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Energy affordability will be a major topic in this year’s elections. Candidates know energy affordability is top-of-mind with voters.
Michiganders are feeling the heat of sky-high utility bills. Michigan families pay some of the highest electric rates in the country for some of the least reliable electric service. But how should voters cut through the noise to determine which proposals will actually lower their bills?
The Michigan Environmental Council has fought for energy affordability and stood up to big utilities for decades. We have five practical solutions that will immediately make Michigan energy more affordable.
.For decades Michigan’s major utilities have enjoyed profit margins well above the national average. The profits are at odds with the low-risk investment in our utility stock options. In exchange, Michiganders get worse reliability from dirty energy. Profit margins have been lowered in recent years, but ratepayers are still overpaying for poor service. Reducing subsidies to utility shareholders should be a top priority to make energy more affordable.
Michiganders are paying $615,000 a day to keep a coal plant open for energy we don’t need. Campbell’s retirement, slated for May of 2025, was carefully planned. State decision-makers ensured that we had sufficient, cheaper replacement energy before shutting down Campbell. The Trump administration is propping up an expensive, dirty coal plant at the expense of Michiganders. Closing Campbell is a commonsense way to make energy more affordable.
3. Double down on energy efficiency
Energy efficiency makes power more affordable for everyone. In 2024 alone, utility-operated efficiency programs saved Michiganders $1.4 billion on their energy bills. Those programs help better insulate drafty homes—a critical need for Michigan’s aging housing stock. Investing in residential weatherization is an immediate solution to make energy more affordable for Michiganders.
4. Embrace renewable energy
For years, renewable energy has been portrayed as more expensive and less reliable than fossil fuels. That’s just not true. In 2024, almost every new renewable project built was cheaper than building a new fossil fuel powered plant. Once a solar or wind project is built, the ‘fuel’ is free. No surprise price hikes. No dependency on global markets. Embracing renewable energy makes energy more predictable and affordable.
5. Make data centers and large industries pay their fair share
Michiganders are subsidizing industrial customers at an alarming rate. While our bills go up exponentially, big business has enjoyed minimal increases. Over the last 20 years, DTE’s rate for large industrial users has increased 11%, while their rate for residential users has increased 114%. As proposals for new, massive, energy-hungry data centers are considered, Michigan families should not be forgotten.
Affordable energy is a necessity. Michigan families, businesses, and communities thrive when energy costs are low. The practical solutions above will lower bills and make energy more affordable for all Michiganders. Political candidates should take note and include these solutions in their energy plans.
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