The bill amends the 1939 Public Act 3, which governs public and private utilities in Michigan, by introducing new requirements for electric utilities concerning their integrated resource plans (IRPs). It mandates the Michigan Public Service Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, to conduct assessments every four years to evaluate energy waste reduction potential, demand response programs, and the impact of environmental regulations. Utilities are required to identify planning reserve margins and local clearing requirements while considering various modeling scenarios, including the electrification of transportation and buildings. The bill also requires utilities to file detailed IRPs that project load obligations, compliance with regulations, and include forecasts of sales, generation technology, renewable energy projections, and environmental justice impact analyses.

Furthermore, the bill establishes criteria for the commission to evaluate IRPs, focusing on human health impacts and environmental justice. It empowers the commission to take official notice of opinions from relevant departments and invites testimony from other state agencies. The bill emphasizes the use of local labor and apprenticeship programs for energy facility construction, ensuring workers receive prevailing wages. It outlines the approval process for IRPs, including provisions for revisions if initially denied, and mandates annual reporting on project statuses. Financial incentives for renewable energy contracts are introduced, along with a framework for reviewing and amending IRPs in response to regulatory changes. Notably, the bill will only take effect if a related Senate Bill is enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 460.6