Michigan forging own path to comply with EPA's Clean Power Plan

In the wake of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) release of its Clean Power Plan last month, Michigan state leaders said on Tuesday that the state will be developing its own State Carbon Implementation Plan (SCIP), rather than rely on the federal plan.

“While the multi-agency state review of the utility carbon rule is ongoing, we have determined that with participation from our stakeholders, Michigan can forge a reasonable path to compliance,” Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Dan Wyant said.

The rule, which is the nation’s first to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants, requires that states either generate their own plans for compliance or follow the generic federal plan. To maintain control, Michigan leaders from the DEQ, Michigan Agency for Energy and other organizations will work to develop an initial plan, which will be submitted by Sept. 6, 2016.

“The best way to protect Michigan is to develop a state plan that reflects Michigan’s priorities of adaptability, affordability, reliability and protection of the environment,” Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said. “We need to seize the opportunity to make Michigan’s energy decisions in Lansing, not leave them in the hands of bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.”