Granholm, Democrats & environmentalists hope to charge MI residents $8 billion to create 365 jobs

Well Governor Job Killer is at it again, breaking the backs of Michigan taxpayers with spin about "creating jobs" when in reality its just another rate increase burden

Thank you to Sen. Cameron S. Brown of the 16th District who posted this heads up information on his Blog

Sen. Brown chairs the Homeland Security and Emerging Technologies Committee. He also serves as the vice chair of both the Campaigns and Elections Committee, and the Energy Policy Committee. A member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Brown serves as chair of the subcommittee on agriculture.

For the better part of two years, Gov. Granholm has been pressuring the Legislature to pass a mandate that the State of Michigan receive 10% of its energy from renewable sources by 2015.

In campaigning for this Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandate, the Governor has repeatedly touted the "thousands" of jobs that would be created as the renewable energy industry flocks to Michigan. Unfortunately, it appears this claim is nothing more than an attempt to win support for an $8 billion rate increase by preying on Michigan residents' desire to turn around our stagnant economy and put people back to work.

Let's take a closer look at the numbers.

As the most cost effective renewable energy, wind is expected to make up the majority of an RPS mandate. In order to meet a 10% RPS, it is estimated that the state would require 3,680 megawatts of wind energy.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, described as the nation's primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development, estimates that a community can expect between two and five new full-time jobs to be created with a 50-100 megawatt wind farm.

Assuming approximately 73 50-megawatt wind farms would be necessary to meet the proposed mandate, Michigan residents can expect roughly 365 new, full-time jobs to be created.

And how much will it cost electric customers to create these 365 new jobs? The Democrat House sponsor of the RPS legislation pegged the cost over 20 years at $8 billion, meaning Michigan residents will be paying an astounding $20 million per new job!

As the RPS bill approaches a final resolution, it's time we get the truth out about the erroneous claims the Governor, Democrats, and environmentalists continue to make about this mandate.