Good news for Michigan: supporters of a ballot initiative to spur the growth of clean energy in the state collected more than the required number of signatures, ensuring the proposal will be put to voters in November.
The current Michigan Renewable Portfolio Standard is 10% by 2015, but the effort led by Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs proposes to raise the RPS to 25% by 2025. Supporters gathered 530,000 signatures, significantly more than the required 322,609. Mark Fisk, spokesman for Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs believes the increased standard will be good for Michigan’s employment figures, as well as the environment.
“Clean energy businesses here in Michigan are using our manufacturing skills to diversify the economy and put people back to work. By increasing our renewable energy standard, we can strengthen this sector even further and move our economy forward.” Independent economists estimate the impact will be seen in creating $10 billion in new investment and more 56,000 jobs.
As previously reported, the Big Energy-backed group, Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) opposes the measure.
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