State Rep. Jamie Thompson will host an energy town hall on Friday, Oct. 20 allowing people to share their thoughts and be informed on legislation and initiatives that will impact families, small businesses and communities throughout the region.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. at Frenchtown Township Hall, located at 2744 Vivian Road in Monroe. Residents and local officials are welcome to attend. Joining Thompson as special guests will be state Sen. Joe Bellino, of Monroe, state Reps. Joseph Aragona, of Clinton Township, and Matthew Bierlein, of Vassar, representatives from DTE Energy and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and local business leaders.

“The governor made it clear in her agenda earlier this year that she wants to shift the state to only allow carbon-free energy on an accelerated timeline,” said Thompson, of Brownstown. “But she wasn’t very clear on how that is going to work and what it’s going to mean for people trying to pay their monthly bills. It’s important to keep people informed. This discussion will allow us to explore the energy issue, break down what a dramatic shift like this would entail, and address people’s concerns and priorities. I invite anyone who is interested to attend.”

Several new energy laws moving in the Legislature right now are set to have significant ramifications for Michigan going forward.

Proposals in the Legislature would mandate a ‘carbon-free’ standard in Michigan by 2035. The move would close some existing power plants, increase electric prices for families, and create legitimate questions about grid reliability.

“I look back on severe storms across our area this summer that knocked out power for days for some people,” Thompson said. “We already have grid issues that cost people money while upending both their lives and livelihoods, so it’s no surprise that many people have questions about potentially having to rely on less reliable forms of energy in the near future.

“It’s important to look at what changing our laws would do for energy availability and people’s budgets. These are critical factors.”

Additional bills under consideration would give the Michigan Public Service Commission the authority to site large solar and wind projects to handle an accelerated and massive push for green energy. The legislation would serve as a workaround to local input and diminish the roles of local elected officials. The proposed plans, House Bills 5120-23, have been a focus at local meetings and hearings across the state over the last few weeks due to their efforts to centralize critical energy decisions.

People seeking more information about this Friday’s event can contact Thompson’s office by calling (517) 373-1772 or emailing JamieThompson@house.mi.gov.