SB 271 Will Hurt Michigan Families and Businesses By Increasing Energy Costs

Press Releases · Nov 28, 2023

WASHINGTON – Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with two million grassroots activists, including thousands of Michiganders, released the following statement from Executive Vice President Ryan Walker condemning Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s signing of SB 271, an extreme “blackout bill” that forces Michigan to adopt a carbon-free energy portfolio.

“Governor Whitmer has pushed disastrous state-level Green New Deal policies onto Michiganders by signing SB 271. This extreme 'blackout bill' will have devastating effects on Michigan families, the state’s large manufacturing industry, and the broader state economy.

“Michigan gets about 63% of its energy from conventional sources like coal and natural gas. Replacing traditional energy sources in favor of less reliable renewables and technologies that do not currently exist would increase energy prices without providing any environmental benefits. Heritage Action condemns the passage and signing of Governor Whitmer’s radical climate policy that will hurt Michigan families. We look forward to working alongside Michiganders for common sense energy solutions.”


BACKGROUND:

  • The Heritage Foundation’s chief statistician, Kevin Dayaratna, using the same models used by government agencies, found that eliminating all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would reduce temperatures by no more than 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2100.

  • If Michigan were to eliminate all of its conventional fuel-based emissions, it would result in the infinitesimal temperature reduction of 0.0042 degrees Celsius by 2100.