Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Karl Bohnak, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
Steve Cortes, CNN Political Commentator (left) & Karl Bohnak, Michigan House Representative (right) | Facebook
State Representative Karl Bohnak has successfully advanced a plan to maintain the operation of the Upper Peninsula's 13 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators until 2049. The proposal, which Bohnak sponsored, received strong bipartisan support in the House.
Bohnak, representing Deerton, emphasized the importance of these generators for local industry. "To keep our mines open to produce the metals our country needs, we must keep the RICE units going through their expiration date in 2050," he stated. He further noted that without the energy provided by these units, the region could face deindustrialization and significant population decline. "My plan would protect U.P. energy production and maintain our 175-year-old mining industry," Bohnak added.
The legislation comprises House Bills 4007 and 4283 and seeks to exempt RICE generators from new "clean energy" mandates until they are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2049. If these generators were shut down prematurely, residents and businesses in the Upper Peninsula could see substantial increases in their monthly energy bills. Residential properties might face an $80 increase, while large industrial facilities could see costs rise by over $470,000 monthly. Specifically, Tilden Iron Mine could incur additional monthly payments exceeding $15 million.
The RICE generators were initially constructed to stabilize the region's energy grid after coal power plants at Presque Isle and Shiras were decommissioned in 2019. Since then, CO2 emissions have been reduced by more than 70% across the Upper Peninsula.
The proposal will now proceed to the Senate for further evaluation.
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