LANSING (WKZO) — The State of Michigan could be facing an energy shortage in the next few years if as many as nine old coal fired generating plants are retired over the next two years, because they don’t meet new EPA pollution standards.
Michigan will meet its 2015 goal for alternative energy production, but it won’t be enough to replace that lost capacity.
Public Service Commission spokesperson Judy Palnau says the Utilities have been asked to submit a five year plan for how they plan to meet the need. Opinions and options vary widely on how to plan for the future.
The utilities would like to start building new gas-fired plants, but regional organizations say there will be excess capacity generated by other states in the midwest grid that Michigan can draw on in peak periods.
Palnau says there are a lot of interest groups who will be working to sway public opinion and gain more control over the energy market and larger profits.
She says it will all play out in the State Legislature as they rewrite the state’s energy policy.
