LANSING, Mich. (WLUC) – The Michigan Public Service Commission released an energy report on the Upper Peninsula.

When Public Act 235 was signed last year, it required the Michigan Public Service Commission to study how the Upper Peninsula can meet the state’s clean energy goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

The report, published earlier this week, recommends ways legislators and energy providers can make a path to meet those standards.

Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Dan Scripps cited the closure of the Shiras coal plant as an example and said the U.P. leads in reducing carbon emissions.

“So, the U.P. in a lot of ways, both with that and also hydroelectric facilities that are zero carbon, is significantly further along in the energy transition than the Lower Peninsula,” Scripps said.

One recommendation in the report is to reclassify certain forms of carbon-neutral energy as renewable energy.

Renewable natural gas sends methane from landfills to be used as fuel but is not classified as renewable in the bill.

Another recommendation is encouraging home or locally based energy generation, such as small solar farms.

Scripps says customer-sided power can help both the customers and their broader community.

“Whether that’s an individual home with solar on the roof, or a manufacturing facility or even something larger like the mines and the mills,” Scripps said. “But customer-sided generation can often serve a local need at that particular location but also contribute to grid stability and reliability overall.”

The report also suggests giving a “functional equivalency” carveout for Upper Michigan energy generators.

This can allow U.P. energy to think outside the box to meet clean energy requirements.

38th District State Sen. Ed McBroom says legislators should also consider ways to keep the cost of energy from spiking.

“We can’t just talk about having sustainable energy, we have to talk about having a sustainable price to that energy, that still allows us all to live and work and be a part of the Upper Peninsula community,” Sen. McBroom said.

The report can be found on the Michigan Public Service Commission website.

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