We support Michigan Farm Bureau advocating for adequate and affordable energy for residents and businesses. We recognize agriculture’s vulnerability to energy interruptions and price volatility and support immediate and long-term solutions including:
- Agriculture having consistent, reliable, and affordable access to all forms of energy.
- Upgrading, expanding and protecting our current electrical generating systems and grid.
- Development, expansion, promotion and incentives for affordable access to natural gas for farms, homes, and businesses.
- Developing a state energy policy that prioritizes agricultural enterprises, such as production, processing and storage facilities, allowing them the same power quality and timely access as other industries, regardless of utility territory.
- A statewide study of transmission connectivity needs including, but not limited to, transmission connections between the two peninsulas.
- MFB working with county Farm Bureaus to study electrical rate disparities across the state. The study should consider the causes and potential policy recommendations promoting affordability in all regions of the state.
- Electric car production and usage being matched by concurrent approval for the construction and/or upgrades for reliable electric generation facilities to deliver the power needed.
- The creation of a charging network for electric vehicles in rural communities.
Michigan Public Service Commission and Utilities
We support:
- Standards for utility companies to resolve power quality issues such as electrical pollution on-farm and urge all parties to maintain their equipment and utility right-of-way to decrease the possibility of neutral-to-ground electrical pollution.
- Net-metering legislation or regulation enabling producers to sell excess power generated on farms back to utilities at an equitable rate.
- Establishment of an agricultural rate classification for electrical service.
- Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) allowance for seasonal inactivity (e.g., irrigation/grain drying) to eliminate the occurrence of non-use monthly charges.
- Voluntary utilization of smart meters.
- All permanent easements owned by utilities, not preserved for future use, being reverted or offered for sale, to the underlying owner at no more than fair market value.
- Including agricultural representation on the MPSC.
- MPSC being responsible for determining capacity needs and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy being responsible for only environmental permitting.
Enhancing Production & Programs
We support:
- The continued operation and upgrades of Line 5 and similar pipelines with strict safety precautions to protect land and water resources.
- Incentives for renewable energy efficiency and conservation that reduce energy use and costs on farms, food processing firms, and agribusinesses.
- Incentives for renewable energy production for sale or use for private applications. Examples include cogeneration, silvicultural material, methane digestion, wind, hydro, and solar power.
- Increasing incentives to broaden the use of biomass blended fuels.
- Education and policy programs to promote sound energy conservation.
- Options expanding domestic energy exploration, incentives to accelerate expansion of liquid natural gas facilities, implementation of technology to utilize domestic coal reserves, and the development of fuel cell technology.
- Programs to increase the utilization of energy sources to minimize adverse environmental impacts.
- Incentives for additional refineries.
- MFB obtaining the services of an in-house grant writer to assist members with the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and other grant programs.
Farmland Protection and Land Use
We support:
- Requiring decommissioning plans to return property to the original state as a part of the permitting process for all new energy projects, including posting an adequate performance bond, or funds before final approval.
- Incentivizing the production and use of renewable energy on non-agricultural use areas such as brownfields, public property, especially state-owned or leased buildings with suitable land for solar, Michigan Department of Transportation rights-of-ways, state parks, state-owned forests, state-owned or leased marginal open space, marginal lands, as well as industrial, residential and agricultural buildings, to reduce easements across farms for renewable energy projects and to protect prime farmland.
- Solar developers disclosing chemical and electronic components of solar panels and equipment to the landowner prior to offering any lease or approval.
- Commercial solar operations notifying landowners and disclosing chemicals used for weed and pest control on leased acres.
- Requiring public lands to share in the advancement of renewable energy goals created for the public interest. Since state and federal governments own over 20% of land in Michigan, public lands have the opportunity and responsibility to lead by example and host at least 20% of renewable energy development.
- All wind generator towers being assessed using multiplier tables established by the MPSC through the process of public hearings and sworn testimony.
We oppose:
- Utility companies inflating land rental rates on their property to well above fair market value of contiguous property.
- Attempts to restrict or ban the use or production of natural gas, LP gas propane or any fossil fuel.