Legislation now making its way through the Michigan Legislature seeks to help RICE generators continue operating in the state.
109th District Republican state Representative Karl Bohnak has introduced the bills in the Michigan House to will carve out an exemption to a 2023 green energy bill that would result in the early retirement of the Upper Peninsula’s 13 Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines, or RICE generators. Bohnak says if not exempted, replacing the generators will cost the U.P. money and jobs.
“In 2027, $1.3 million per month surcharge to build out a whole new energy infrastructure, and it just keeps on going up year after year until 2045,” Buhnak said. “It’s $15 million per month. That’s totally unsustainable for industry.”
State Senator Ed McBroom also supports the legislation, and says he is optimistic it will pass in the state Senate, where Democrats hold a one seat majority.
RICE generators are natural gas generators that operate along a principle similar to an internal combustion engine.
