LANSING �?? Michigan Senate members could act on legislation changing utility regulation this week, but it was unclear how big a chance there was that action would in fact take place.
Indications from the office of Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) were that chances for action this week were “slim.”
However, at least one Senate member working on proposals said it would send a bad signal to business in the state to conclude the session for the summer without a proposal passing both houses. Final action may wait till September, this person said, but with both the Senate and House having acted business will know the state is serious about expanding energy development.
Work on several potential substitute bills has been underway intently, with supporters and opponents of the package that came from the Energy Policy and Public Utilities Committee (HB 5524 , HB 5548 and HB 5549 ) passing drafts to each other on potential compromises.
What could decide whether action comes or not is the attitude of Senate GOP members at their regular Tuesday caucus.
Some members had hoped that the Senate would have acted on the bills last week, and with all legislators hoping they can break for the summer at the end of this week, the drive is even greater to get some action done from those members.
Governor Jennifer Granholm is also hoping for action, saying development of a new energy plan will be a major spur to jobs development in the state.
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