The
Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO) released a report stating
Michigan will have to rely on imports for electric supply and will have to work
to address potential capacity shortfalls.
MISO,
which oversees transmission of electric power to 15 states total, determined
its region is projected to have resources to meet its Planning Reserve
Requirement for 2017, but additional action is needed going forward. In 2017,
the region needs 2.7 gigawatts, or 2.2 percent, in excess of projected resource
requirements; but the announced retirements of old power plants will decrease
the excess to 0.9 gigawatts, or 0.7 percent. The excess capacity will
potentially address zonal deficits, such as those in Michigan.
Lower
Michigan is expected to fall short in its predicted capacity against reserve
requirement by 0.3 gigawatts. The region including eastern Wisconsin and the
Upper Peninsula potentially has between 0.9 and 1 gigawatts of excess. Montana
is the only other state to have a shortfall in 2017 at 0.8 gigawatts. Not all
projected capacity is available to serve load outside of a zone due to transfer
limitations, Michigan may be able to pick up electric capacity from Indiana and
Wisconsin, however to what degree has not been determined.
The
increased urgency had Citizens for Michigan’s Energy Future, a coalition backed
by utilities such as DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, urging the Legislature to
take up current energy policy.