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Photo by Daniel Lai
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Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Dist. 52, answers a question during a coffee hour informal meeting in Manchester Monday.
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Energy conservation, natural resource preservation and technology were on the minds of Manchester area residents Monday during an informal discussion with State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Dist.52.
Addressing concerns over increased costs associated with legislation that would restructure Michigan utility regulation and narrow the ability of utility customers to choose alternate electricity suppliers, Byrnes said she doubts consumers would see a dramatic increase on their monthly bills.
"I don't sit on the Energy Committee, so the information I get is directly from the chair of that committee. I don't think it will affect residents much at all," she said.
However, Attorney General Mike Cox said he believes the proposals, which include requiring a percentage of Michigan's power to come from renewable sources, would raise electricity rates by some $2.5 billion.
Objections raised by Cox include renewable energy mandates and cost caps that he sees as too high, a 10 percent limit on customer choice, reduced rate-setting oversight by the Michigan Public Service Commission, and the end to a system in which business customers pay higher rates to subsidize residential customers.
Cox called the proposals, which are part of the legislature's "green initiative" package, "anti-consumer and anti-competition" and said they will raise rates for both residential and business customers.
"Cleaner energy is a laudable goal," Cox said in a news release. "But this proposal tie-bars that benefit to greater utility company profits, more mandates, less choice and much higher rates for all residential customers. It's a bad bargain, and it should be defeated."
Cox also wants establishment of a renewable standard to be considered separately from changes to Michigan's electric choice law, instead of the two issues being legislatively linked as they are in the current state House proposal.
Byrnes said she supports the legislation and feels it will help cut down the state's energy use in the future.
"It's a significant package we have to deal with which involves the reregulation of utilities, the renewable portfolio standard and energy initiative tax credits that create incentives for residents to be more energy conscious," she said. "A comprehensive package assures affordable, reliable and clean energy and we can't afford to wait much longer to develop a comprehensive energy plan for the state."
Another hot button issue residents questioned Byrnes on involves funding for state parks and natural resource preservation.
"I would like to see the bill pass that would add $9 onto our license plate renewal fee which would be set aside for state parks," Bridgewater resident Patty Swaney said. "Why not do it if the parks would be completely and adequately funded?"
Byrnes said though she feels more legislation is needed to protect the state's natural resources, increasing the license plate renewal fee would be counterproductive.
"Let's say you increase the license fee, then you have a lot of people vying for that same increase," she said. "But I agree, it's certainly something we need to be embellishing if we can."
Internet accessibility was another major concern voiced by residents.
"It's a travesty for people who cannot get high speed Internet connectivity," Swaney said. "I don't think it would take a heck of a lot for our communication companies out there to provide us with high speed Internet. I think the state should require that for the people of our state."
Byrnes said one of the legislator's biggest initiatives, which was passed unanimously out of the House committee last week, would bring some $60 million in new funding for Michigan tourism and business promotion. House Bills 5865-5867 make $60 million available for state promotion by refinancing tobacco-settlement bonds. Byrnes said the state is looking at spending $40 million for tourism and $20 million for business marketing over a span of at least two years.
The money would be on top of the $10 million the state is already spending this year on tourism and $11.3 million designated this year for business marketing.
Editor Daniel Lai can be reached at 428-8173 or dlai@heritage.com.
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