A new ballot proposal would require even more of the state's energy to come from renewable resources. Michigan already has rules that require utility companies to use a certain amount of renewable energy by the year 2015.
6 News looked into the new proposal and what it could mean for area utilities.
Back in 2008, the state put in place a Renewable Energy Reform law. It requires all utility companies to have 15 percent of their energy come from Michigan green sources by 2015.
Wednesday, Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs filed a ballot proposal that aims to increase it to 25 percent by 2025.
"There's so much technology advancement in Michigan in this arena. There's billions of dollars in investments that are going to come into this type of program here. I see it as a way to diversify. I have nothing against the automotive industry, but we need to do other things, and this is one of the things that we can get into that's birthing, it's going to be here, it's going to be large, and it's going to put Michigan on the map from a jobs creation standpoint," said Jeff Metts, Dowding Industries president.
Consumer's Energy has been working to meet the current renewable requirement. It developed solar energy programs and a wind farm in Mason county. Right now the utility gets 5 percent of its electricity from green sources. Right now they are on target to meet the 15 percent requirement.
"We think it's a bit premature to be talking about changing the renewable requirement, until in fact we've met the requirement of the current Michigan Energy Reform law," said Dan Bishop, Consumer's Energy.
"This is something that they're going to need to do. This is the next generation," said Metts.
The group that filed the ballot proposal is aiming to raise more than a million dollars and collect around 500,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.
