LANSING – As Rep. Gary Glenn prepares to take over the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee, he is looking to better educate all members on the topic and move the state more toward choice in the market, whether that means total choice or incremental steps during the next two years.

Glenn (R-Midland) has long been a proponent of scrapping the 10 percent cap in electric choice. As he chairs the committee this term, he would like to pass policy that would either get rid of the cap or allow more entities to participate in choice without counting toward the cap.

And, he said, if Governor Rick Snyder or the Senate do not support similar policies, he will wait for a Senate and governor who do support “free market principles.”

“I think in the long view, I am open to the possibility that the next two years are for making the case for a return to a (former Governor John Engler) model for choice and competition in the market,” he said.

Glenn said he wants to use the model former Rep. Al Pscholka, who chaired the Appropriations Committee last term, used to educate all members on the budget process, not just Appropriations members, to get members up to speed on energy policy.

Glenn said he thinks members of the committee can be educated on the complex issue more quickly, though.

Those members should expect an aggressive and busy committee. Outside of choice, Glenn is considering oversight hearings on the Public Service Commission and the closure of the Palisades nuclear power plant, a plan to consider transmission choice and looking at grid security.

Glenn criticized the process by which the House voted on energy policy at the end of last term, saying members were not given sufficient time to read the bill and, even if they did read the bill, they likely did not understand it after the all-nighter that preceded members receiving the 230-page draft.

“I was and remain extremely uncomfortable by the process in which we enact complex language on an extremely important topic,” he said.

Glenn said in the law, there is a structure creating a capacity charge for anyone who buys electricity outside of the two main utilities. He said if anyone in the choice market pays that charge, there is no justification for a cap on choice.

“That will be the end all, and if for whatever reason that is not accepted by the Senate or the governor then we will try incremental steps such as ensuring all schools, colleges, units of government and hospitals … are free to choose where they buy electricity,” he said.

This story was published by Gongwer News Service. To subscribe, click on www.gongwer.com