This
week, the House Energy Policy Committee took testimony on a bill that would
create a seven-member board to consider a project that would create
transmission lines connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas so Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula would not have to rely on out-of-state providers.
House
Bill 4575 introduced by
Representative Triston Cole (R-Mancelona) would create a seven-member Michigan
Electric Infrastructure Board within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory
Affairs. Their task would be to ensure adequate resources be able to reach
Michigan electric consumers through the construction of transmission
infrastructure that will reduce congestion and energy prices, provide for
additional transmission capacity, ensure reliable and efficient operation of
the integrated electrical transmission system, and support the state's energy
policy goals.