LANSING – Legislation to boost energy development in Michigan could be a good test of how well the Legislature and Governor Jennifer Granholm are going to work together this year, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) said Monday. But he warned against trying to “jam” standards for the use of renewable energy that technology does not currently support.

However, the vice president for research at the University of Michigan said that if the state made certain standards a priority – such as generating 20 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020 – it would be difficult but achievable. “If we regard this as a priority we will do it,” said Steve Forrest.

Bishop was interviewed on WJR-Radio Monday where he said there was no question that relations between Granholm and legislative leaders would improve after the contentious environment of 2007.

In fact, he said, after meeting together the legislative leaders and Granholm had taken a pledge “to clean up our act” after the public clearly registered disgust with the legislative process during 2007 when lawmakers fought over tax increases and the budget.

But Bishop said the issues of 2007 were bound to lead to conflict, when officials are arguing over whether to raise taxes.

This year should lack that kind of conflict, Bishop said, which will allow for lawmakers to focus on issues to help build up the state.

He also said he was looking forward to the 2008-09 budget cycle, which will begin February 7 when Granholm unveils her budget proposal, because there will be no effort to raise taxes. “We will have to live within our means,” he said.

The state is desperate for “bold leadership” in areas like energy development and education, Bishop said, and reaching agreement on energy proposals would be a good test of the ability of the Legislature and administration to work together.

Last week, the House Energy and Technology Committee moved legislation to require that 10 percent of the state’s energy portfolio come from renewable sources. The Senate then discharged bills to its floor that would require state government to purchase an increasing percentage of its energy from renewable sources, which would help build a market for renewable energy, supporters said.

Bishop said the state is way behind others in pushing energy development, especially companies that would use ignored or unusual sources to develop energy.

But he warned against trying to adopt legislation to set portfolio standards for the amount of energy. “The political rhetoric does not match the reality. They (supporters of renewal energy) are trying to jam portfolio standards when they know full well the technology is not there. It’s a pipe dream,” he said.

Instead, the state should focus its efforts first on bringing in companies that want to develop energy through innovative sources, Bishop said.

But Forrest said reaching a threshold of 20 percent energy from renewable sources by 2020 will be difficult but achievable if officials and the public make it a priority and act on it with serious intent. The issue has to be dealt in terms of near, mid and long-term goals, he said.

Currently, the best way to develop alternative sources of energy at the most cost efficient level is through wind power, he said. Eventually, greater use of solar energy will be needed, Forrest said, and the development of biofuels will underpin all efforts because of the state’s relationship to the automotive industry.

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