LANSING, MAY 18, 2023 — State Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit), chair of the Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee, held a press conference today announcing details of the Energy Reliability, Resilience and Accountability Task Force and the corresponding Dependable Energy Listening Tour. The bipartisan task force and listening tour have been created to collect data, information, and resident and business owner experiences regarding the large-scale power outages that occurred earlier this year after severe storms.

“With the closure and demolition of two power plants in the U.P. in the last five years, our energy landscape is changing,” said state Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette), a member of the task force and a former member of the U.P. Energy Task Force. “We need to make sure that these changes happen on the terms set by U.P. communities. I look forward to hearing from constituents on their energy needs. I will be advocating for energy policies that meet the unique needs of our region.”

When severe storms wreaked havoc throughout Michigan earlier this year, thousands of households and businesses lost power, leading to calls for utility companies to be held to account. With increases in extreme weather events, legislators have called to create a comprehensive, statewide package of reforms that will support consumer protection, promote affordable access to energy and ensure infrastructure dependability. The task force and listening tour are part of these continued and ongoing efforts.