LANSING, MI (WTVB) – State Senator Jonathan Lindsey joined fellow Republicans in criticizing a series of so-called clean energy bills after they were narrowly passed by the Democrat-controlled State Senate on Thursday.
The four bills are aimed at increasing clean and renewable energy standards. They would require Michigan’s energy to come from sources that do not emit climate warming gases by 2040.
The package of bills passed along party line votes of 20-18. They now move onto the State House for consideration.
Lindsey among the 18 Republicans who voted no and said in a statement issued by his office that the bills quickly found their way to the Senate floor after weeks of delay.
He stated, “These bills are bad for Michigan and do not include comprehensive solutions that benefit the people who entrusted us to do this job. They only satisfy a radical agenda while failing to solve, or even address the need for improved reliability and lower costs. These heavy-handed ‘Green New Deal’ mandates will drive even more people across the border into other states, discourage business development and investment and leave state taxpayers with the bill.”
Other Republican Senators felt the policies are misguided and will make energy more expensive and less reliable.
Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the package “a big deal for Michigan families, Michigan workers, and Michigan’s economy.”
Kalamazoo Democratic State Senator Sean McCann said, “This legislation is a major milestone in ongoing efforts to ensure a greener and more environmentally conscious Michigan.”
I seen the so called clean energy being set up on 11 mile road going to Burlington. We the people of Michigan better start pushing back against this destruction of our once beautiful countrysides and farm lands. All your going to see is solar panels and wind farms that are inefficient in replacing gas and coal powered plants.