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Michigan Lawmakers To Tackle Energy Policy When They Return In January

Michigan House Democrats
State Representative Jeff Irwin

January could see state lawmakers taking on energy conservation.

The state's energy policy is one of the first pieces of legislation lawmakers are expected to address when they return to Lansing in the new year. There are some who hope the work will be bi-partisan.

Ann Arbor Democrat Jeff Irwin is optimistic lawmakers will work together to adopt a policy that encourages energy efficiency and conservation efforts. The current energy plan, developed in 2008, requires electricity providers to cut energy use by 1 percent annually; most providers have surpassed these targets. Irwin wants to further reduce wasteful practices and to "increase the rate at which we are investing in energy efficiency in Michigan." Irwin's reasoning is that "it makes perfect sense economically, and, once again, those investments are made in people and businesses."

Irwin says reducing the amount of energy that is needed also increases environmental protection in Michigan.

Like 89.1 WEMU on Facebook and follow us on Twitter— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.       

Like many, I first came to this area when I started school at the University of Michigan, then fell in love with the community and haven’t left. After graduating from U of M in the mid 1990’s I interned at WDET for several years, while also working a variety of jobs in Ann Arbor. Then in 1999 I joined the WEMU news team.
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