UP Gazette

Representative Dave Prestin, a Republican from Cedar River, expressed his dissatisfaction after Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed solar siting and clean energy mandate bills into law. Prestin has been a vocal opponent of this legislation, which he believes will have detrimental effects on the Upper Peninsula.

In a statement, Prestin criticized the governor's decision, stating, "The governor signed away the future of the Upper Peninsula to please climate activists, not considering the factories that this will close and the families who will struggle to afford their heat in the middle of winter." He further argued that public utilities would be burdened with the cost of renewable energy credits, which would ultimately be passed on to consumers who are already struggling to pay their energy bills.

Prestin also expressed concerns about the impact on local control, saying, "It takes away local control and gives free reign to large green energy corporations to transform rural areas into a renewable energy credit source for large cities in lower Michigan." He highlighted the division within the House, with some colleagues from across the aisle expressing reservations about the legislation due to its potential negative consequences for their communities.

The representative emphasized the importance of voices from concerned residents, stating, "Our voices matter. The activists and the special interests may have won, but the U.P. lost." He criticized the repeal of laws passed by Republicans, arguing that the state is at risk of losing its largest companies and talented tradesmen due to a lack of reliable energy.

However, Prestin remained optimistic and determined to fight against these policies, saying, "This isn't the end. There's nothing stopping the people of our state from banding together to repeal these radical policies rooted in ideology instead of science. We're going to fight this intentional sabotage of our future." He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "As Yoopers, this is our fight. This isn't a question of 'if we get this done', we have to get this done. This law will not stand."

Despite the governor's signature, Representative Prestin is determined to continue the fight against the solar siting and clean energy mandate bills. He believes that the legislation will have a detrimental impact on the Upper Peninsula, leading to factory closures and increased energy costs for consumers. He also expresses concern about the loss of local control and the potential transformation of rural areas into renewable energy sources for larger cities. Prestin calls on the people of the state to unite and repeal these policies, emphasizing that their voices matter in shaping the future of Michigan's energy landscape.

To learn more, click on this link: https://gophouse.org/posts/rep-prestin-energy-fight-not-over-with-governors-signature