NEWS RELEASE: Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist calls on U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett and John James to stand up for Michigan’s clean energy economy, oppose “reckless actions” by Congress

Lansing, Mich. – Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist today called on U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett and John James to stand up for Michigan’s clean energy economy and oppose the rollback of federal clean energy tax credits and investments that are driving the state’s progress and creating thousands of new jobs. On a call with reporters this morning, the lieutenant governor described the Republican plan as “reckless actions in subservience to a reckless President who is putting Michigan’s economic future and security, as well as our clean energy future and security, at risk.”

Earlier today, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a budget reconciliation bill on a party line vote that effectively repeals federal clean energy tax credits that were passed by Congress in 2022 and claws back billions of dollars in previously allocated funding for a wide range of climate and clean energy programs and initiatives.

“People across Michigan are demanding that our congressional delegation, the Republicans who have decisive roles to play in this – Congressman Tom Barrett, Congressman John James – they have a responsibility to the people of Michigan whom they serve and want to serve going forward to make sure they’re doing everything to lower costs and being willing and courageous enough to stand up to an unreasonable, unfair and reckless administration that has its target set on our progress here in the state of Michigan,” Lt. Gov. Gilchrist said. “It’s not acceptable and we have to go forward.”

Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Michigan has led the nation with 74 new clean energy projects, which have already generated nearly $40 billion in private investment and more than 25,000 announced jobs.

“We have been really clear about our goals in Michigan that we want to be a leader in clean energy availability and clean energy generation, transmission and storage and clean energy excellence here in the State of Michigan,” Gilchrist continued. “That’s because we are good at making and building and growing things in our amazing state, and want to make sure everyone in our communities across Michigan has a role to play in that future. We’re very proud of the progress that we’ve made at the state level.”

The lieutenant governor was joined on today’s call by key stakeholders in Michigan’s clean energy economy, who shared their perspectives on the damage that would result from repealing federal clean energy tax credits and investments:

• “The loss of these credits will result in both a slowdown in economic growth and an increase in cost for energy rate payers in Michigan,” said Justin Carpenter, policy director for the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (MIEIBC). “We really encourage our congressional delegation to preserve these credits and preserve the jobs and investment dollars in their districts.”

• “Right now, solar and wind are actually 50% cheaper than electricity from fossil fuels. We should be encouraging its adoption as we face an energy crisis and a resiliency crisis,” said Rob Kaercher, co-founder and CEO of Lansing-based Absolute Solar. “Solar and wind accounted for 93% of new American energy supply in 2024. So to turn away from a resource and a technology that is really becoming incredibly efficient from a cost standpoint and investment standpoint, we are really turning away a lot of growth and benefits to the states, to the climate and to its residents. So I strongly urge the credits to be maintained, because it would do a tremendous amount for local businesses just like ours to be able to continue to hire and grow and invest in our communities.”

• East Lansing homeowner Ann Siegle, who leveraged federal clean energy tax credits to install solar panels on her family’s home, noted that the federal residential clean energy tax credit was instrumental in being able to install solar on her home. “Our out-of-pocket cost would have been $26,000 to install that system but with the federal energy tax credit and a credit from our local utility we were able to get that net cost down to $16,000,” Siegle said. “What it means for us is the payoff is in 7 to 10 years and all the power we generate at that point is basically free. We did it for our kids, because our kids are looking out there and seeing a world in which the climate is going to be a whole lot worse. And our planet’s going to be a whole lot worse. So we really did it for our kids. But the benefits are really clear. The credits helped us do this project. We wouldn’t have done it otherwise. And going forward, a lot of people are going to make the same decision. We can’t afford to do it without these credits.”

• Steve Perry, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 352, whose members are deeply engaged in building out Michigan’s clean energy future, noted the increased demand for clean energy and the consequences of sudden policy changes that undermine our ability to meet that demand. “When you’re geared up under one administration to meet those demands and to basically re-gear your workforce and your infrastructure, then all of a sudden it comes to a screeching halt and all of that goes away, it’s really difficult to pick up the pieces of that shattered mirror to try to put it back together and still push forward with the demands that we all see,” Perry said. “And to just tear that away, it’s years of strategic planning and years of retooling and training that are just put on hold abruptly.”

A recording and transcript of today’s call is available here.

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