The event was hosted by State Representative Ed McBroom
ESCANABA -- State Representative Ed McBroom hosted an energy town hall forum at Bay College in Escanaba Tuesday.
According to Tom Harrell, General Manager at Alger Delta Co-Op in Gladstone, there's a proposal that requires that renewable energy comes from the State of Michigan.
He says it's going to be a significant burden in the U.P. because his co-op buys its power from outside the state. Right now there are regulations that give his company credit for using renewable energy even if it comes from outside the state.
The forum was an opportunity for both panel members and residents to express their thoughts and concerns regarding the U.P. and the state's energy needs.
McBroom says the forum gives the public a voice. "So they depend on calling me and I have to deliver this information in a second-hand nature. And sometimes I sound like the lone wolf in the wilderness."
Representative Ken Horn is the chairman of the Michigan House Energy and Technology Committee. He explained his current efforts. "I think it’s very important for the people to know that this is still a representative government that they still own. They're shareholders in this big enterprise we call the State of Michigan."
So what's next for the committee chairman? "Well, I'm working with the Governor's office for an energy message this fall and my long-range energy plan kind of fell short. Now we're looking at 2015," explains Horn.
The next step is a business leader’s roundtable that'll take place Wednesday. The House Committee Members will continue their U.P. tour with visits to Tilden Mine in Palmer, Verso Paper in Iron Mountain, and the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette.
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