LANSING, MI, September 1st, 2015

The Michigan Chemistry Council (MCC) today urged the Snyder administration to pursue an “all of the above” response to the EPA’s new carbon mandate, calling for legal, administrative, and legislative actions to best protect Michigan’s ratepayers and grow jobs.

 “Michigan’s chemical companies are committed to environmental sustainability,” said MCC Executive Director John Dulmes. “Our industry’s products provide solutions to many of our planet’s biggest challenges, and our members are leaders in reducing their own environmental footprints. However, we believe the EPA’s recently-finalized Clean Power Plan (CPP) and associated carbon reduction mandates may unnecessarily drive up energy costs and hurt American manufacturing.”

Dulmes continued, “We recognize the ongoing legal challenges to this regulation, and support Gov. Snyder’s decision to craft a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that can best protect Michigan’s ratepayers if those challenges are unsuccessful. As the administration prepares its SIP, it should consider all available options to ensure that Michigan’s ratepayers aren’t saddled with a huge energy bill. Energy-intensive industrial users must be a key part of these conversations. Finally, the Michigan Legislature should work to establish energy policies that can help the state meet these challenges, remain competitive, and grow jobs.”

 The MCC’s 2015 Energy Policy Agenda (http://www.michiganchemistry.com/energy-agenda) details specific policy initiatives in the four areas of competitive energy costs, energy efficiency, clean energy, and an adaptive Michigan energy policy.

 The Michigan Chemistry Council, established in 1967, represents Michigan’s chemical manufacturers, formulators and distributors. Chemistry is Michigan’s third-largest manufacturing sector, supporting nearly 120,000 Michigan jobs and generating $127 million in state and local taxes.