Clean Energy by 2040 Passed in House and Senate
Update: Oct 30-Nov 10, 2023
A bill package summoning Clean Energy by 2040 passed in the Michigan House on Thursday, November 2. Originally a set of nine bills — five from the Senate and four from the House — this package was whittled down to a final seven. The House’s initial four bills were consolidated into House Bills 5120 and 5121. Several amendments were made by the House before passing the final package. These amendments primarily focus on giving local government more authority over the energy projects and adjusting language within the legislation.
Senate Bills 271, 273, 502, 519, and 277 mandate that electric companies shall run entirely on clean energy by 2040 and will allow farmers to rent land to commercial solar projects. These projects alone could impose an additional cost of $100 per month for Michigan residents due to new infrastructure that the projects would require, according to a Minnesota think tank. A recent press release by Governor Whitmer touts a savings of $145 per year for each Michigander by incorporating clean energy, dampening the monthly project cost slightly. The clean energy legislation is also expected to assist in receiving $7.8 million in federal investments and contribute to the addition of Michigan jobs.