UP Gazette

State Representative Dave Prestin recently presented his case to the House Energy Committee, advocating for House Bill 4283. This bill aims to ensure the continued operation of the Upper Peninsula's 13 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators by classifying their energy output as renewable until 2049.

Prestin highlighted the region's progress in reducing carbon emissions before recent renewable energy laws were enacted. "In the 10 years before recent renewable energy laws went into effect, the U.P. was already leading in clean energy by decommissioning coal power plants ahead of the rest of the state. We lowered our CO2 emissions by more than 70% because we built the RICE units," he stated during his testimony.

The RICE generators were introduced to stabilize the Upper Peninsula's energy grid after coal power plants were shut down in 2019. The generators are expected to operate until 2050, but new energy regulations could impose significant costs on local ratepayers. Residential and commercial customers may see substantial increases in their monthly bills if these regulations take effect.

"Losing our largest power plants meant that the U.P. was threatened with tens of millions of dollars in System Support Resource payments, because our grid would effectively be a burden on the transmission grid going into Wisconsin," Prestin explained. He emphasized that RICE units offer a flexible solution due to their mobility and ability to adjust generation based on demand.

State Representative Karl Bohnak also testified alongside Prestin, supporting his own proposal, House Bill 4007. This bill seeks to exempt RICE generators from comprehensive green energy legislation passed in 2023, allowing them to remain operational through 2049.

Both bills are currently under consideration by the Energy Committee and await further action.