• Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
Clear

Marquette
Clear 63°

Clear

Escanaba
Clear 66°

Clear

Houghton
Clear 61°

Clear

Iron Mountain
Clear 64°

Watch
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result
WZMQ 19 News | CBS | MeTV Marquette
No Result
View All Result

Republican lawmakers hold town hall to discuss new energy legislation

by Scott Minshall
November 17, 2023
A A

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A recently passed energy package has divided U.P. legislators. State lawmakers held a town hall in Marquette Thursday night to hear from constituents.

Marquette Township Hall was filled tonight as republicans, Senator Ed Mcbroom, Representative Greg Markkanen,  and Representative Dave Prestin discussed the newly passed energy legislation.

A number of residents expressed concern that the bills will take zoning authority for renewable energy projects away from local governments, and give it solely to the Michigan Public Service Commission.

“This is incentivising private property owners, to jump this ship and potentially surround their neighbors homes, take their farmland from the people they have been leasing from, cut down trees, whatever it takes so they can have this large continuous acreage, and get this very generous benefit to put up solar panels on their property,” remarked State Senator Ed Mcbroom.

According to Senator Mcbroom as of now farmers in the U.P. pay around $20-$50 per year to lease an acre of land. He expects land owners could be offered up to $1,800 a month per acre to lease land for clean energy projects.

“It is going to change the whole landscape of our communities in Michigan, agriculture is the number 2 industry in michigan we are feeding people, millions of people,” added Mcbroom.

The republican legislators say they’re also concerned the energy legislation will shut down 13 reciprocating internal combustion engines– or “RICE” generators in the U.P. which were installed in 2019 after the Presque Isle Power Plant was removed.

Representative Preston says carbon emissions have decreased 86% since then, and that the legislation doesn’t take that into account.  He says the bills could require  the $600-million generators to close early to meet the new emissions standards.

“You are going to be looking at several millions of dollars of payments that need to be recouped if those rice burners go down before the expected date of 2049,” remarked Representative Prestin

The package has cleared through both chambers of the state legislature. It will now go to Governor Whitmers desk where she is expected to sign it into law.

Get WZMQ 19 anytime, anywhere

Download the app

AppleAndroid

Watch on TV

RokuFire TVZeam

Connect on social media

FacebookTwitterInstagram

More

News

Michigan House Passes Bill Making Roadway Blockages a Crime, Raising Free-Speech Concerns

September 17, 2025
News

Michigan Inter-Tribal Council brings mobile mammograms to U.P.

September 17, 2025
The Marquette County Board of Commissioners held their regularly scheduled meeting this evening in Marquette.
News

Marquette County Board seeks applicants as Commissioner John DePetro resigns

September 17, 2025
News

14 DAYS: Michigan Budget Stalemate Raises Shutdown Fears as Deadline Nears

September 16, 2025
News

End the Silence Walk Life Keeper Quilts on display at Bay College

September 16, 2025
News

U.P. Ice Fishing & Hunting Expo to benefit local food pantry and animal shelter

September 16, 2025
Next Post

Iron Mountain Police Department reminds residents of citywide winter parking ban

Panera Bread is up and running in Marquette

  • Home
  • News
  • Weather
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Events
  • Programming
  • Station
WZMQ CBS | 19 News

© 2025 WZMQ, LLC | FCC Public File | EEO Report

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UP 200
    • Local
    • Lansing Bureau
    • Washington D.C. Bureau
    • National
    • Insights
    • Watch 19 News Live
    • CBS News Live
    • Report News
  • Weather
    • Forecast + Conditions
    • Current Alerts
    • Interactive Radar
    • Cameras
    • Share Photos/Videos
    • Closings and Delays
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Life in the 906
    • The Yooper Goddess
  • Events
  • Programming
    • Programming Guide
    • CBS
    • MeTV
    • Start TV
    • Heroes & Icons
    • Court TV
    • ION
  • Station
    • About Us
    • Community Involvement
    • Mobile App
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Advertising
    • Request Copy of Story
    • FCC Public File
    • EEO Report
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our privacy policy.