Our great state is an economic machine.
Michigan ranks top 10 among the best states for doing business. We’ve led the nation’s auto industry for a century. We’re also becoming a hub for advanced manufacturing for things such as silicon and microchips, plus data centers and AI facilities are looking to expand here.
But like any machine, our economy requires reliable, affordable power to ensure these sectors continue to thrive. And that electricity needs major power lines to transport it. State regulators must do all they can to ensure critical transmission projects are built in a timely manner to support continued growth.
Fortunately, the Midwestern grid operator approved a multi-state portfolio of 18 transmission lines that will greatly improve the reliability of the electricity grid, connecting low-cost power sources needed to fuel these successful industries. These regional lines will increase transmission capacity across the Midwest, pre-empting the need for costly reliability and upgrade projects that serve more as band-aids rather than long-term system solutions.
These projects – two of which are slated to be built in Michigan – are no-brainers, delivering twice as many benefits compared to costs. One of the Michigan lines, connecting to the transmission grid at the Indiana border, would mark our state’s first new interstate transmission connection in nearly half a century.
Ed Rivet is executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum.
Both Michigan projects are designed to improve system reliability and reduce expensive congestion costs that occur when there is not enough capacity to move available electricity. Bringing new generation sources online needed to sustain future economic growth requires a grid system designed to handle new challenges for years to come.
In recent years, extreme weather events have rocked the state, causing widespread power outages that have left hundreds of thousands of people in the dark and without heat in winter or air conditioning in summer. Last year, Michigan had the most customers impacted by an outage per capita and ranked third in the nation for the number of outages behind Texas and California. A stronger, expanded transmission system allows power to flow to weather-stricken regions from unaffected areas, helping keep the lights on and air conditioning running.
Further, these transmission lines enable job-creating energy resources to connect to the grid. Michigan-based renewable energy systems are being built all across the state, supporting thousands of jobs. As we start making more of our own energy in more places, the transmission system must be capable of moving energy from generation points to where it’s needed.
Like the pride we take in our auto industry and other manufacturing sectors, we need to similarly invest in the electricity system supporting these economic engines. Fifty years is too long between major upgrades. Regional transmission lines are key to ensuring Michigan continues its economic growth while navigating challenges in the decades ahead.
Ed Rivet is executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Viewpoint: Michigan’s energy future requires investment in power grid