Legislative Action Center

Utilities in Michigan have too much power, and not the kind that keeps our lights on. Power in Lansing, ensuring that lawmakers don’t hold them accountable in the ways that our communities need. Michigan residents pay some of the highest energy bills in the country yet receive some of the most unreliable service. Despite frequent outages, rate increases, and record profits, utilities are not being held accountable for improving their services. We need laws passed that will force our utilities to prioritize people over profits and deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy for customers, not exorbitant profits for corporate shareholders.

From 1990 - 1995, Michigan had some of the strongest polluter pay laws in the country. Unfortunately, those were repealed, leaving taxpayers to pay to clean up contaminated sites caused by corporate polluters. It is unjust to force communities already dealing with the public health and environmental impacts of pollution to also be charged with cleaning up polluters' messes. Lawmakers have drafted and introduced a series of bills that would bring back accountability in Michigan and place the burden of cost back onto the polluters. This package includes bills that would require many industries to post bonds or hold insurance to cover cleanups in the event that they pollute and allow state and private citizens to sue polluters who have caused them harm. Read our statement on the back-to-back industry contamination events in Southeast Michigan.

Strong community solar policies will help make our grid more reliable, decrease energy bills, and give Michigan residents the tools to power their homes and businesses.

Cumulative impacts legislation to ensure critical protections for communities overburdened by air and water pollution

Passage of the Water affordability bill package and septics legislation that will bring Michigan closer to ensuring everyone has access to clean, safe, and affordable water. Learn more about the bills we are advocating for.