Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson Proposes Energy Plan to Upgrade Electric Grid
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is also a candidate for the governor’s race, unveiled her energy plan on Friday, focusing on compelling utilities to invest more in upgrading Michigan’s electric grid. This plan comes as part of her campaign for the Democratic Party nomination against several other contenders.
In her speech in Saginaw, Benson emphasized the need for transparency in utility spending, stating, “We’re paying these skyrocketing bills and we don’t know where all this money is going. Is it going to eliminate these outages and modernize our grid? Or is it just going to increase the profits of corporations and CEO’s?”
Benson’s Energy Plan Highlights:
- Demand a comprehensive grid audit
- Launch a statewide Home Energy Bills Relief Program
- Modernize Michigan’s power grid
- Restrict political contributions from public utilities
- Protect residents from unfair electricity shutoffs
- Expand prevailing wage and create more well-paying union jobs in Michigan’s clean energy sector
- Reform the rate setting process
- Ensure corporations — not ratepayers — pay the cost of increased energy demands
While Benson’s proposals target utility companies, both DTE and Consumers Energy responded with statements that did not directly address her plan. Consumers Energy’s director of media relations, Katie Carey, mentioned the company’s commitment to securing the grid and investing in Michigan, while DTE Energy highlighted their efforts in improving grid reliability and managing costs responsibly.
Despite the lack of direct endorsement from the utility companies, Benson remains steadfast in her goal to push for a more efficient and modernized electric grid in Michigan, setting the stage for a potentially transformative energy policy if she secures the governor’s seat.
