Renewable Energy on the Ballot – Is this a good thing? GRAR does Not Think So.
Posted on September 17, 2012Among the many ballot proposals facing Michigan voters this November, is the complicated 25×25 renewable energy initiative. It would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by the year 2025. Proponents claim that it will mean thousands of new Michigan jobs and more than $10 billion in new investment in Michigan. Opponents say that utilities, who would be forced to invest billions of dollars that they don’t have, would ultimately have to recover this investment through enormous fees charged to its customers in order to meet the 25×25 standard. The state would also need another 3,100 wind turbines, requiring an estimated 500,000 acres of land. They also claim the proponents are overestimating the benefits.
GRAR is of the opinion that the proposal is foundationally flawed. The bottom line is that it locks an arbitrary number into the state constitution – something no state has ever done. We believe strongly that the constitution is not the place for this issue. It is for this reason that GRAR, through its Government Affairs Committee, has taken a position AGAINST this ballot proposal.
Thank you to the Government Affairs Committee members who have spent hours and hours of time this year dealing with ballot issues and interviewing political candidates.
Author: Julie Rietberg – CEO at Grand Rapids Association of Realtors
September 17th, 2012
