MiMfg Magazine January 2019 | Page 15

January 2019 To support a competitive manufacturing sector, Michigan must: • Ensure manufacturing energy costs are not a barrier to global competitiveness • Require capacity resources be compared against each other for reliability and cost effectiveness • Support policy for cost of service rates by rate class • Oppose cost shifts to industrial ratepayers • Support the operation and development of energy pipelines • Value reliability and pricing as equally critical to competitiveness • Maintain a 10% electric choice market to enhance opportunities for competitiveness Michigan’s energy policy must constantly search for the best opportunities for lower costs and greater reliability, while maintaining the opportunity for choice in the electric market. Environmental & Regulatory A healthy regulatory environment is essential for a competitive Michigan. As the largest sector of the economy, manufacturers find themselves challenged to comply with the heaviest regulatory burden of any sector. State government has eliminated more than 3,046 outdated rules across all state agencies thanks to discussion with MMA and other stakeholders. Through this effort, Michigan regulations are more closely aligned with existing federal standards and those of other states. To support a competitive manufacturing sector, Michigan must: • Stop efforts to adopt local environmental ordinances that create a complicated patchwork of regulations adding to bureaucratic complexity of the state and negatively impacting the state’s business climate • Ensure Michigan’s environmental rules and regulations do not exceed federal standards without clear justification • Reduce or eliminate environmental fees which reduce manufacturers’ ability to compete globally • Ensure federally mandated fees fund only the federally mandated programs • Develop efficient, timely and responsive permitting programs in the Department of Environmental Quality MiMfg Magazine Your Support is Critical “Our ability to support pro-manufacturing candidates is imperative as anti-manufacturing voices are working strategically against our industry. The MMA- PAC is limited to personal contributions from our members, so your contributions as a leader in manufacturing are critical to success in these pivotal mid-term elections.” — Patrick Curry, MMA-PAC Chair and President of Fullerton Tool Contributing to the MMA-PAC is an investment in Michigan’s future and one of the most affordable and effective ways to support pro-manufacturing legislators and candidates. line: n O e t a n o D mimfg.org Support MMA-PAC • Establish environmental standards based on settled science to encourage environmental cleanups and competitive permitting As Michigan deals with emerging chemicals such as PFAS and lead in the water, state policymakers should address manufacturing’s call for clarity, consistency and certainty in compliance standards to assure the most efficient use of environmental protection dollars. 15 Contact Brianna Mills: 517-487-8523 or [email protected]. MMA-PAC can accept personal contributions or contributions from sole-proprietorships, partnerships or limited liability companies (LLCs). State Law prohibits acceptance of corporate checks.