State Representative Pauline Wendzel has introduced a sweeping package of legislation intended to reduce energy costs and improve the reliability of Michigan’s electric grid.
Wendzel tells us that Project Lighthouse has been in the works for a few years, partly in response to Democrat-backed plans to reform the energy system in the state back in 2023. She remembers when those bills were passed.
“And I looked at those in 2023 and actually made my only floor speech ever against those bills, and they passed on party lines,” Wendzel said. “I looked at my colleagues across the aisle and said these laws will raise our rates. And guess what’s happening.”
Wendzel says Project Lighthouse has several components, but perhaps the biggest is the repeal of renewable energy mandates that she says Democrats imposed on utilities.
“By certain dates, they must have complied to a certain, mainly wind and solar, which is expensive. And I think there’s a lot of options out there, and I’m not saying that those aren’t part of the equation. I’m just saying that we need to do this in a smart way that keeps our grid reliable, makes our grid reliable again because it’s not right now.”
Wendzel says the package would also ensure that ratepayer dollars don’t go to energy industry lobbyists, and it would make changes to how the Michigan Public Service Commission evaluates energy proposals.
“They consider a lot of things right now when making that decision, and we’re changing that to make it more defined. The top two things are going to be reliability and affordability.”
So, why is it called Project Lighthouse?
“A lighthouse is there as a light in the storm, and we have a storm right now. It’s been brewing for a couple years with our energy reliability and affordability, and we’re hoping that the lighthouse will lead us back to shore.”
The package was introduced this week, and Wendzel expects it to get a hearing in the House Energy Committee next week. Wendzel is the chair of that committee.