MFB Joins Opposition of Expanding Renewable Energy Standard

By CnAgri2012-09-10 19:24:06 Print

Michigan Farm Bureau lent its voice to a coalition opposing a renewable energy ballot initiative Michigan voters will see Nov. 6. Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) for Michigan is a coalition of organizations and individuals urging voters to take a pass on the "Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs" or "25 x 25" proposal, which would require utilities to generate at least 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

CARE's stance is that "Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs" represents a costly expansion of renewable energy production in an unreasonably short timeframe. It also objects to such mandates being codified in the state constitution.

"The Michigan Farm Bureau has strong concerns that this initiative would hurt the pocketbooks of Michigan families, businesses and our farms," said MFB President Wayne H. Wood. "Many of our members use renewable energy to help run their farms and we support those efforts, but locking energy policy into the state's constitution is bad policy, plain and simple."

The coalition supports the state's 2008 energy policy, requiring providers to generate 10 percent of Michigan's electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Describing the existing mandate as "challenging but realistic," CARE leaders say the state's utilities are halfway toward achieving that "reasonable and responsible" goal.

"We're convinced this measure would dramatically raise energy prices," said MFB Election Specialist Matt Kapp, citing the organization's member-developed policy aimed at maintaining reasonable energy costs.

Kapp noted MFB's longtime support for renewable energy, including the 2008 Renewable Portfolio Standard. The organization supports wind and solar energy, as well as alternative fuel sources linked to agriculture, such as corn-based ethanol, soy biodiesel and methane digestion.

The organization's other beef with the proposal is its target: the state constitution. According to CARE, passage of "25 x 25" would make Michigan the only state in the nation with a renewable fuel standard written into its constitution.

"Energy production is a volatile industry--lots of unpredictable ups and downs--so policy related to it must be flexible and easy to tweak in the short term," Kapp said. "The state constitution is not built for that--it's hard to change and rightfully so. Energy policy belongs in the legislature, not the constitution."

CARE coalition members include labor and business groups, energy providers, citizen groups and government officials. Other agricultural organizations that have teamed up with CARE include Michigan Milk Producers Association and the Michigan Sugar Company.