UP Gazette

State Representative Karl Bohnak has introduced legislation aimed at supporting energy production in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The proposal seeks to exempt the region's 13 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators from green energy mandates enacted in 2023. These generators were established to stabilize the local energy grid after the closure of coal power plants in 2019 and are expected to remain operational until 2050. Without intervention, they may face shutdown or significant operational changes due to new regulations.

Bohnak expressed his motivation for taking legislative action: “The whole reason I’m in Lansing and not enjoying an early retirement back home in Deerton is because I saw what state bureaucrats were doing to our way of life in the U.P. and I wasn’t going to stand for it,” he stated. He emphasized that these generators represent a clean, reliable energy solution tailored for the Upper Peninsula, which was overlooked by lawmakers distant from the region.

The financial implications of decommissioning these generators are significant, with estimates suggesting increased costs for customers if they go offline. A report from the Michigan Public Service Commission highlights that RICE generators have contributed to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions within the region over recent years.

Representative Dave Prestin also voiced support for Bohnak’s initiative, having previously opposed the green energy mandates. Prestin noted concerns about electric reliability and potential economic impacts on local industries: “These generators went in place because there were serious concerns about the reliability of electric generation in the U.P., looming System Support Resource (SSR) charges that would have affected affordability, and the consequences to U.P.-based mining operations."

Both representatives argue that maintaining RICE generator operations is crucial for providing affordable and dependable energy across Upper Michigan.