LANSING – A vote on legislation to at least create a new renewable energy portfolio for Michigan before the end of the week is the goal of at least one conference committee chair as lawmakers draw closer to acting on an energy package.
The latest drafts of SB 213 and HB 5524 were distributed on Tuesday, but actual conference committee action on the two bills was delayed.
Some further revisions to SB 213 are being developed, including correcting some of the drafting errors that occurred as the bill has grown from its original nine pages to more than 90 pages.
Officials say work on HB 5524, which will change how the state regulates utilities, is substantially completed. But the chair of the conference committee, Rep. Frank Accavitti (D-Eastpointe), told reporters he was holding off taking a vote on that bill until SB 213 was completed.
Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Twp.) said it is her goal to have the full Senate vote on the bill by the end of the week.
Accavitti has called another conference committee on HB 5524 for 9 a.m., Thursday. Ms. Birkholz was still working with conference committee members on when they could meet on SB 213.
A workgroup on SB 213 was meeting Tuesday afternoon and Accavitti said one of the outstanding issues was how to deal with hydro-power under the bill. He said issues regarding incineration, whether those facilities would be deemed renewable and whether there could be new or expanded facilities, was worked out earlier in the day.
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