Mackinac Island Snyder questions renewable energy ballot plan Proponents want to put requirement for renewable energy in state constitution

By John Flesher Associated Press MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (AP) -- Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday he has serious doubts about requiring Michigan utilities to produce 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025, saying it's too early to set such an ambitious goal. Snyder told The Associated Press he hasn't taken a formal position on a proposal to put the 25 percent requirement in the state constitution. But the Republican governor said considerable uncertainty remains about how much energy can be produced cost-effectively in Michigan from wind, solar, biomass and hydropower. "I'm not sure on the face of it that it makes a lot of sense," Snyder said in an interview on the opening day of the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual policy conference on Mackinac Island. The chamber said it would oppose the measure. Legislation approved in 2008 set a deadline of 2015 for Michigan to generate 10 percent of its energy from renewables. The state reached 3.6 percent in 2010, according to a February report by the Michigan Public Service Commission. But the agency predicted the rate would jump over the next couple of years as new projects go online and should reach 8.4 percent in 2013. A group called Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs is collecting petition signatures seeking to put the 25 percent requirement on the Nov. 6 election ballot. The Detroit chamber is urging people not to sign, said Sandy Baruah, president and CEO. "Michigan is already on an intelligent and affordable clean energy path because of the 2008 energy law, which passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support," Baruah said. He contended that amending the constitution isn't a good way to make energy policy. Snyder said despite the progress being made, it's uncertain where the state will stand when the deadline comes. "My view is, shouldn't we give it an opportunity to be further along, to be more mature, before people all of a sudden jump into the next 10 years?" he said. Achieving 25 percent would depend heavily on federal tax policies and subsidies that would make the investments economically feasible, he said. "The problem is, there really isn't a comprehensive federal energy policy to my knowledge," Snyder said. He also questioned whether Michigan is "a great state" for production of wind and solar power, "versus saying there are states that would be much more efficient at providing that energy and we should be working on better transmission policies to get power transmitted to Michigan." Dianne Byrum, spokeswoman for Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs, said renewable sources were becoming as affordable as new production of coal and natural gas. She said it's likely the state will hit the 10 percent threshold ahead of the deadline. "We have an excellent track record with renewable energy. We've had great successes," Byrum said. "If we don't start planning now for what happens after 2015, we're going to be behind other states." Electricity prices are rising in Michigan because it's more expensive to transport coal from other regions, Byrum said. Michigan gets 60 percent of its electric power from coal. Published: Thu, May 31, 2012