Freedom Fights

Report: ‘Net-zero’ Britain will struggle to keep the lights on

Across the pond, a utopian vision runs into reality, bringing a darker, colder new normal

Britain’s energy transition could create a new normal where the country struggles to keep the lights on, according to a report from Parliament’s Business Select Committee.

As the Telegraph reports:

Britain will struggle to keep the lights on using only net zero electricity as the roll-out of green energy lags far behind target, MPs have warned.

Falling investor confidence and bureaucratic delays mean Britain’s efforts to produce entirely clean electricity are at risk of stalling, MPs on the cross-party Business Select Committee said.

They are calling on the government to come up with a “coherent, overarching plan” to boost green supplies — or risk missing climate targets.

The parlimentary report deals with the same risks Michigan politicians are taking with a peremptory switch from robust to negligible energy sources.

Like the U.K., Michigan goes beyond just trying to increase the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The state is quickly retiring reliable energy sources like coal and nuclear, with no plan to make up that loss with energy generated from renewable sources.

Michigan is also facing a darker, colder new normal. After back-to-back storms in February and March knocked out power for millions of people, Michigan lawmakers swore change was coming.

But rather than shore up grid reliability or open the market for energy competition, lawmakers have gone in the opposite direction. Senate Bill 271, submitted April 19 by Sen. Erika Geiss, D-Taylor, would mandate that Michigan electric providers to move to a 100% renewable portfolio by 2035.

To the extent Michigan lawmakers have taken action at all, their actions would weaken the grid, not strengthen it.

This comes as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wants to build out the infrastructure for two million electric vehicles on Michigan roads by 2030, and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm envisions an all-EV military fleet by 2030.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

News Story

Grand Valley State underwrites identity-based graduation events

‘Grand Valley does not segregate any of its graduation events,’ school says

Grand Valley State University is spending money on identity-based graduation events that precede its graduation ceremony. Several of those events are based on race or ethnicity.

Some news outlets and media platforms have reported that GVSU is holding race-based graduation ceremonies. The university says that’s not the case. It is, though, holding smaller events in the days before the large ceremony, spokesman Chris Knape told MLive.

“Students and faculty host their own cultural graduation celebrations” and small, intimate farewells, Knape told the news outlet.

Knape also said, “Grand Valley does not segregate any of its graduation events,” adding that all students are welcome to attend the events.

Michigan Capitol Confidential submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Grand Valley, asking much the university plans to spend on six specific events.

Here is what Grand Valley reported:

  • Asian graduation celebration: $2,050
  • Black graduation celebration: $8,450
  • Latino graduation celebration: $6,150
  • Lavender graduation celebration: $3,270
  • Native American graduation celebration: $4,500
  • University commencement: $413,299

Knape told CapCon that Grand Valley funds other graduation-related events, which are not based on race or sexual identity.

“In many cases the university funds all or a portion of a variety of end-of-year events for students, including our annual Toast celebration for graduates as well as graduation celebrations for veterans, nursing students, leadership academy members and foster students, among others,” Knape told CapCon.

GVSU received $81.3 million from Michigan residents through state budget appropriations for the 2022-23 academic year.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.