Affordable Energy is the Foundation of American Competitiveness: Lora Current and Michigan Rep. Phil Green in Michigan News Source
Affordable energy is more than a policy goal; it is a competitive advantage.
Senior Manager of ALEC’s Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force Lora Current and Michigan Rep. Phil Green recently co-authored a Michigan News Source op-ed highlighting that rising electricity costs are straining residents and employers while undermining Michigan’s ability to compete for major manufacturing and infrastructure investment. The piece contends that misguided energy policy choices have weakened affordable energy access and imposed burdens that threaten the state’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Recently the Michigan House approved a plan to lower energy prices across the Great Lakes State. As Michigan residents face rising utility costs and the state competes for major investments in manufacturing and data infrastructure, this plan to make energy more affordable and reliable has never been more important.
Energy affordability is not an abstract concept. It shows up in monthly utility bills, at the gas pump, and in the cost of doing business. At the same time, the energy landscape is becoming more complex. Rapid growth in electricity demand driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, and the reshoring of advanced manufacturing is placing new strain on the grid. States must not only maintain affordability but also ensure they have the capacity to meet future demand without sacrificing reliability.
The connection between misguided public policy and rising energy prices is borne out in the data. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) just released an updated edition of its annual Energy Affordability Report, which provides a clear, data-driven look at how states are performing and what policy choices are driving those outcomes. Michigan ranked 38th out of the 50 states in electricity affordability.
States that get energy policy right position themselves for long-term growth. They do not risk falling behind. The report evaluated electricity affordability across all 50 states using the most recent full year of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Utility bills for Michigan residents are almost double compared to states like Louisiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas.