The transition to green energy sources has received great support from Michigan’s leaders and voters, as seen by the introduction of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan in 2022 and the Democratic Party’s aim of using only clean energy by 2035.
Recent surveys conducted by the progressive think tank Data For Progress and the climate change advocacy group Evergreen change show that 62% of Michiganders are in favor of the state’s clean energy mandate, while 34% are against it. Data For Progress polled 566 potential voters who answered a web panel between January 28 and January 30. In order to reflect likely voters by age, gender, education, race, region, and recalled presidential vote, the sample was weighted. Rather than party registration, participants were classified according to their self-reported party allegiance. Although Data For Progress points out that this may be greater for the subgroups, the survey’s margin of error is four percentage points.
According to Courtney Brady, deputy director of Evergreen Action’s Midwest, the 2024 election rocked the nation, and since media coverage obscured voters’ positions on energy-related issues, the survey seeks to ascertain the post-election sentiments of the typical voter, especially independents.
According to the study, 85% of Democrats said they somewhat or strongly favored a full transition to clean energy during the next ten years, indicating that they were especially supportive of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035.
Additionally, 42% of Republicans and 61% of independents supported the state’s sustainable energy initiatives.
In addition to enacting a clean energy standard into state law, Michigan officials have sought to protect individuals whose jobs may be lost as businesses move away from fossil fuels and to capitalize on economic opportunities brought about by the change to green energy.
79% of all respondents polled said they either somewhat or strongly support programs that will increase manufacturing and clean energy jobs. 93% of Democrats, 78% of independents, and 68% of Republicans endorse the party line.
Following former President Joe Biden’s efforts to increase renewable energy and support the manufacturing of electric vehicles through federal subsidies, Michigan secured more clean energy projects than any other state, according to multiple reports from the communications firm Climate Power. This led to at least 751 projects nationwide.
However, the future of many programs is unknown because President Donald Trump has pledged to repeal Biden’s energy and climate policies, and the Trump administration is stalling climate expenditures.
The director of Michigan’s Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy, Phil Roos, told reporters after Whitmer’s fiscal year 2026 executive budget proposal was presented that federal funding was essential to the department’s programming. The department has approximately $500 million in total, with a significant portion of that amount going toward energy transition initiatives.
In order for the state to meet its clean energy targets, permitting and expansion of clean energy initiatives are essential, in addition to support and buy-in.
According to the study, 73% of voters said that it was critical to facilitate the construction of new sustainable energy projects. However, Republicans and independents had lower majorities, with 68% of independents and 65% of Republicans saying that it is necessary for clean energy projects to be easily approved for building, compared to 87% of Democrats.
Two legislation aimed at expediting the regulatory process for large-scale renewable energy projects were adopted by parliamentarians as part of the Democratic clean energy package.
The bills give the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state’s energy regulator, authority over permits for solar energy developments with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more, wind facilities with a capacity of 100 megawatts or more, and energy storage facilities with a capacity of 50 megawatts or more and a discharge capacity of 200 megawatts or more.
Republicans, however, claimed the laws deprived Michigan cities of their permitting authority and referred to the endeavor as a power grab.
The law’s final version gives the parties 120 days to come to an agreement, with the possibility of a 120-day extension, and mandates that energy companies collaborate with municipalities whose permitting procedures are similar to those of the state.
The developer may, however, submit a permitting application to the Public Service Commission if the community does not promptly approve or deny an application, if the local zoning process is more stringent than the legal requirements, or if a project satisfies the legal requirements but is rejected.
Members of the new Republican majority in the House have already submitted House Bills 4027 and 4028, introduced by Rep. Gregory Alexander (R-Carsonville), to reverse these amendments.
Seven counties and seventy-two townships have also sued to prevent the Public Service Commission from enforcing the new zoning rule.
Although Republicans and the opposition have repeatedly tried to have the zoning changes removed from the law, Brady said that prior bills that sought to do away with the permitting changes also failed and that a referendum to repeal the law did not garner enough signatures to be on the ballot in 2024 or 2026.
People want to make these items easy to find. They hope the investment materializes. According to Brady, they want individuals to be free to do anything they want with their land, create jobs, and eventually have lower energy bills as a result of adding additional resources to the grid.
According to her, there is a significant discrepancy between the opinions of the most vocal opposition and the actual situation for voters.
The survey asked voters about their grievances with the state’s electricity utility providers, various initiatives to assist people with high energy expenses, and the conversion of gas-powered automobiles to electric vehicles, in addition to questions concerning the state’s clean energy regulations.
According to the survey, most voters supported the state’s clean energy goal as well as the expansion of Michigan’s home repair program, which can reduce energy costs by $145 annually by making homes more energy efficient, and its program that offers rebates for energy efficiency improvements, which is anticipated to begin in March.
Voters in Michigan also overwhelmingly supported initiatives to promote electric vehicles, with 58% supporting legislative action to increase the number of EV chargers in the state and 57% supporting the expansion of rebates and other financial aid for EV purchases.
According to 64% of people polled, the legislature should also act to assist Michigan schools in utilizing federal monies to replace outdated school buses with new electric versions. Furthermore, 75% of respondents favored initiatives to expand access to buses and light rail, as well as to enhance and modernize the state’s public transportation system.
Many respondents expressed a strong belief in environmental justice as well; 79% of them agreed that the state should give priority to addressing pollution in areas that bear a greater burden.
The Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, which represents the state’s energy consumers, reports that Michigan has one of the lowest energy reliability ratings in the country. The poll also emphasized Michiganders’ dissatisfaction with the state’s energy companies.
With 85% of voters stating that they would support legislation forcing utility companies to be more transparent in their decisions to respond to and avoid power outages, voters urged that their firms be more transparent. With 83% of respondents in favor, they also called for more openness on the overall decision-making process in these businesses.
Additionally, most voters agreed that the Legislature should do more to protect the state power grid from severe weather, which has resulted in multiple long outages throughout the state. Sixty-four percent of voters said lawmakers should do more to ensure energy companies are keeping costs affordable, while 51 percent said lawmakers should do more to protect the state power grid from severe weather. According to 48% of respondents, lawmakers ought to do more to make sure these corporations aren’t acting to stall the use of clean energy.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.