Republican Energy Plan Targets 2023 Clean Energy Overhaul

LANSING — Michigan House Republicans have introduced a package of energy bills that would significantly roll back the state's clean energy standards, including legislation Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed in 2023 that put Michigan on track to produce 100 percent of its energy from renewable resources.

The new energy plan, introduced by House Republicans, would eliminate the 2023 overhaul designed to phase out fossil fuels by the end of the next decade. It would also scale back changes made in 2016 that aimed to limit energy waste.

House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) co-sponsors the package, which includes bills that would restructure utility planning to prioritize system reliability and minimize costs to ratepayers over renewable energy mandates.

"It restructures utility planning, so the Michigan Public Service Commission approves energy plans based first on system reliability and minimizing costs to our ratepayers. It evaluates how the grid performs under peak demand and extreme conditions, which we're seeing a lot more of," Wendzel said during a press conference with House leadership Wednesday.

Republicans Blame Clean Energy for Rising Utility Costs

Republicans have long blamed clean energy policies for rising utility prices. They accuse utilities of requesting over a billion dollars worth of rate hikes in recent years.

Package sponsors are also criticizing grants to nonprofits and local governments that help residential customers adapt their own power usage, calling it wasted money.

Rep. Dave Prestin (R-108th State House District) says the proposal has nothing to do with politics.

"The physics of the energy laws that we have passed over the last 20 years are, in large part, not attainable," Prestin said. "Especially in reference to the planned utilization of intermittent resources like wind, solar and battery. These bills change all of that by reprioritizing reliable and affordability and dispatchability."

Democrats and Climate Groups Oppose the Plan

Democrats and climate groups are deriding the Republican-backed bills, arguing that less reliance on fossil fuels helps the state in the long run.

House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) told reporters that the Republican plan couldn't have come at a worse time.

"It's going to make it harder for our utilities to invest in clean energy products that they've already planned. That they've already planned for that are still could come into our state and provide billions of dollars of economic investment and thousands of jobs," Puri said.

"The 2023 mandates I think were ahead of its time in helping us diversify our generation portfolio here in Michigan to making sure we're producing the cheapest option available and have everything on the table to making sure we can deliver the lowest rates," Puri added.

Climate Concerns and Energy Stability

Supporters of clean energy argue that it reduces pollution, has fewer associated negative health effects, and can be created closer to home. Meanwhile, climate change is fueling increasingly unstable weather patterns in Michigan, and global instability continues to impact energy markets.

Rep. Pauline Wendzel said the plan also aims to make energy more affordable.

"And really, the easiest way to do that is to have a diverse set of energy generation sources across our state and making sure we have a menu of options in order to fulfill those needs," Wendzel said.

Puri noted that even if the bills pass the state House of Representatives, they will likely die in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

"The Republican plan is just filling their political agenda while continuing to enrich their oil and gas donors," Puri said.

Background on 2023 Clean Energy Mandates

Governor Whitmer signed legislation in 2023 putting Michigan on track to produce 100 percent of its energy from renewable resources, such as wind and solar. The legislation aimed to phase out fossil fuels by the end of the next decade.

The Republican bills would change all of that by reprioritizing reliable and affordability and dispatchability over the renewable energy mandates.

Both Representatives say energy policies are complex and cannot be fixed overnight, but they also want to lower Michiganders' utility bills and make energy more affordable.

Energy Committee Leadership

Rep. Pauline Wendzel serves as Chair of the House Energy, Communications and Technology Committee. She has been a leading voice on energy policy in the Michigan House of Representatives.

The bills require passage through both the House and Senate before getting to the Governor for signature.

Sources

  • Michigan House Republicans unveil energy plan — https://www.wemu.org/michigan-news/2026-03-12/michigan-house-republicans-unveil-energy-plan
  • Michigan House Republicans propose to overhaul the state's clean energy laws — https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2026/03/13/michigan-house-republicans-propose-overhaul-states-clean-energy-laws/
  • Michigan House Republicans unveil energy plan — https://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-03-12/michigan-house-republicans-unveil-energy-plan
  • House Bill 5711 of 2026 — https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2026-HB-5711
  • Senate Bill 826 of 2026 — https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2026-SB-0826