LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Two Michigan lawmakers are working to save generators in the Upper Peninsula from green energy legislation enacted by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Democratic majority in 2023.

State Rep. Karl Bohnak (R-Deerton) is working to save the use of Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) generators in the U.P, and Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) is supporting his colleague’s efforts. Rep. Bohnak introduced House Bill 4007 that would exempt the U.P.’s 13  RICE generators from the green energy changes. The RICE generators helped stabilize the U.P.’s energy grid after the shut down of two coal power plants five years ago. They have 25 years left in their life cycle.

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“The whole reason I’m in Lansing and not enjoying an early retirement back home in Deerton is because I saw what state bureaucrats were doing to our way of life in the U.P. and I wasn’t going to stand for it,” said Bohnak . “[The RICE generators] are a prime example of our state government’s lack of understanding of the unique situations we face north of the Mackinac Bridge.”

Bohnak continued, “Folks spent a lot of money to develop a clean, reliable way for us to produce energy in the U.P. Politicians 400 miles away ignored those good-faith efforts and passed laws to effectively ban RICE generators. I’m serving in the Legislature to ensure our communities have the voice that’s been sorely missing for the past two years,” he said.

Prestin served in the House in 2023 when the green energy legislation made it through both chambers. He was a vocal opponent of those mandates then, and remains one now. “According to a recent MPSC report, RICE generators are a significant reason why the U.P. energy sector reduced its CO2 emissions by 71% from 2013 to 2022. Bohnak said his plan will protect the U.P.’s baseload energy supply and ensure that U.P. ratepayers have access to affordable and reliable energy,” Prestin said.

He also added, “RICE generators produce clean and reliable energy for families across the U.P. They must remain operational.”

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Energy.