State Representative Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) expressed his concern over the integrity and reliability of Michigan’s energy grid in a letter sent to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Department of Energy Secretary Christopher Wright. In the letter, Meerman cites several alarming facts about how untenable clean energy mandates and poor infrastructure have made Michigan’s energy grid more vulnerable, likely leading to higher rates and outages in the near future.

“My purpose in writing the letter was simply to make those in charge of the federal government’s energy policy aware of how Michigan has fallen short and jeopardized our energy infrastructure,” Meerman said. “The Trump administration has both a unique ability to direct the national conversation around energy and, fortunately, a resolve to tap into our energy resources and make life more affordable. Michigan could really benefit from their leadership.”

Meerman’s letter details findings in a report by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which states that Michigan’s energy grid ranks as the highest risk grid in the nation. Michigan’s energy system operator is the country’s least reliable system operator, and the system operator’s specific region for Michigan is its least reliable region. Coupled with new clean energy mandates recently imposed under Democrat leadership, the lack of reliability in Michigan’s energy system will cause it to be well below reference levels within ten years according to the NERC report.

“Michigan’s electric providers do not acknowledge the weakened state of the energy grid and insofar as they can meet renewable energy mandates, providers are not incentivized to signal to the dangers of energy transition,” Meerman’s letter says. “Next month, the state’s largest energy provider will close its last coal operated power plant, the J.H. Campbell Power Plant, years before the end of its useful life and after receiving significant investment toward a cleaner operation. This closure, and the planned closures of [several other] prominent facilities reinforce the uncertainties spelled out in the NERC reports.”

Joining Meerman in signing his letter were State Representatives Dave Prestin, Rachelle Smit, and Bradley Slagh, as well as State Senators Jonathan Lindsey, Mark Huizenga, and Roger Victory.

“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and directional shift in energy policy. The newly created National Energy Dominance Council will set the tenor for energy discussions across the nation,” Meerman’s letter states in its concluding paragraph. “It is our hope that your work here will re-establish U.S. energy dominance and bring the focus of discussion back to infrastructure integrity and energy security.”