Climate change

Where Michigan stands: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year unveiled the MI Healthy Climate Plan. Her administration says Michigan is one of 14 states with “bold,” economywide goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions 52 percent by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

What is next: Whitmer told Crain’s she wants to “codify that work so it doesn’t die on the vine” as recommendations only. “ ese are long-term issues, and we’ve got to have a change in mindset where we really enact things that are going to transcend one administration.” e power sector, which accounted for about 30 percent of Michigan’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, has been transitioning to clean energy.

Utilities must supply at least 15 percent of their power from renewable sources, a requirement that leveled o a year ago. Whitmer’s blueprint calls for boosting the mandate to 50 percent by 2030 with legislation or formal commitments from utilities to regulators.

DTE Energy plans to retire what will be the state’s last remaining coal- red plant in 2035. at is ve years later than the Whitmer administration’s recommendation.

Charlotte Jameson, chief policy o cer for the Michigan Environmental Council, said the Legislature historically has done new energy laws every seven or eight years.

“We’re at that point now,” she said. “We could approach it from the perspective of, ‘Let’s do an energy policy rewrite and think about what aspects of the governor’s climate plan fold into that.’ e cornerstone of those energy rewrites has been the renewable energy standard and the energy-e ciency standards.” e transportation sector was responsible for almost 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. e administration wants to use an inux of federal funding and other aid to build out a charging network to support 2 million electric vehicles on Michigan roads by 2030.

Utility o cials may push back by noting they already are transitioning to cleaner energy and questioning the pace at which they would be mandated to do so.

Commentary

Other ideas:

Whitmer’s proposed incentives to spur EV sales stalled in the Republican-led Legislature last year. She could revive or tweak them following the ip to Democratic legislative control. She previously proposed a $2,000 rebate to buy EVs and a $500 rebate for at-home charging equipment.

Her administration also wants to reduce emissions related to heating homes and businesses by 17 percent by 2030. E ciency and weatherization spending could help. The plan urges incentive programs to convert from natural gas to electric appliances like heat pumps, with an emphasis on low-income residents.

Environmentalists, business lobbyists and others are anxious to see to what extent Whitmer and lawmakers try to turn goals into substantive policies.