Public Process for Informing Michigan’s Energy Future Kicks Off

The public input process announced in Governor Rick Snyder’s Special Message on Energy and the Environment kicks off today with the launch of a new website and the schedule for seven public forums around the state.

LANSING – The public input process announced in Governor Rick Snyder’s Special Message on Energy and the Environment kicks off today with the launch of a new website and the schedule for seven public forums around the state.

The public forums will be hosted by Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman John D. Quackenbush and Michigan Energy Office Director Steve Bakkal, whom the governor charged with co-chairing and overseeing the public input process.  The information gathered will assist public policymakers and the public as they take a comprehensive look at Michigan’s energy future. 

As he discussed in the State of the State address last week, Governor Snyder will rely on the results of this process when making his comprehensive recommendations regarding Michigan’s energy future in December.

The seven Michigan Energy Public Forums will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates at the locations listed:

Lansing

Thurs., February 14

Library of Michigan

702 W. Kalamazoo St.

Lansing, MI  48909

 

Grand Rapids

Monday, Feb. 25

Grand Valley State University

Loosemoore Auditorium

401 Fulton St. West

Grand Rapids, MI  49504

 

University Center (Tri-Cities area)

Monday, March 4

Delta College

Lecture Theater

1961 Delta Rd.

University Center, MI  48710

 

Kalamazoo

Monday, March 18

Western Michigan University

Fetzer Center

Kirsch Auditorium

 2350 Business Ct.

Kalamazoo, MI  49008-5239

 

Detroit

Monday, March 25

NextEnergy 
461 Burroughs Street
Detroit, MI 48202

 

Marquette

Friday, April 12

Northern Michigan University

Don H. Bottum University Center

Brule & Cadillac Conference Rooms

1401 Presque Isle

Marquette, MI  49855

 

Traverse City

Monday, April 22

Northwestern Michigan College

Hagerty Conference Center

715 E. Front St.

Traverse City, MI  49686

 

The agenda for each event and speakers will be provided approximately two weeks before each session.  There will be time reserved for interested members of the public to speak at the forums as well.

On Friday, Jan. 25, a new website to facilitate public input will also begin accepting comments. Michigan.gov/energy, which will remain open to comments until April 25, will be a key tool in data gathering.  

To assist the policymakers who will be making decisions, commenters are encouraged to submit their factual questions, information, reports, and suggestions on what information is needed to make good energy decisions.

To help guide the participation process, co-chairs Quackenbush and Bakkal have developed a series of questions on the website that asks for specific information.  All comments will be made available to the public for review and response.  There will be specific questions in the area of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the regulatory structure for electricity, as well as other energy topics.  To keep the focus on verifiable facts, commenters are asked to refrain from advocating or recommending a particular policy.

The Governor’s Special Message on Energy and the Environment, including Appendix A that describes this process, are available here

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