LANSING – Republican former Governor Bill Milliken on Tuesday gave his support to the November ballot proposal that would require increasing the state’s renewable energy standard to 25 percent by 2025.
“I think the opportunity of renewable energy in Michigan is important enough that the 25 percent renewable policy should have the long-term certainty of Constitutional protection,” Milliken said in a statement released by the group leading the effort to pass the proposal, Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs.
“Two things we can count on are that the wind will continue to blow and the sun will keep on shining. And unlike the volatility and uncertainty of energy prices from coal, oil, and natural gas, we can confidently forecast the cost of renewable energy, which is steadily declining and already competitive with coal and other fossil fuels.”
Milliken served as governor of Michigan from 1969 to 1983 and carved a reputation as an environmentalist who signed into law most of the state’s basic environmental protection laws. Milliken also added that the kind of collaborative spirit needed for such a change is “hard to come by these days in Lansing” and as a result Michigan is falling behind other states when it comes to renewable energy.
Megan Brown, spokesperson for opponents Clean Affordable Renewable Energy said there are clearly disagreements on the issue.
“We have the endorsement and support from Republicans and Democrats alike – including former Attorney General Frank Kelley, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Conrad Mallett, Governor Rick Snyder, current Attorney General Bill Schuette, former Attorney General Mike Cox and several state leaders who understand that energy policy doesn’t belong in the Constitution, that it will cost the people of Michigan at least $12 billion dollars and that it threatens local zoning control,” she said in an e-mail.
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