WLNS: Walberg hosts energy roundtable in Jackson

Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-05) sat down with energy leaders at a Monday roundtable in Jackson to talk about making energy more affordable and reliable.

“I believe that the resources that God has given to us in the creation of this great ball of earth and resources are to be used,” Walberg said. 

The focus was speed — and how work could be done to get new energy infrastructure approved and built faster in Michigan. Walber says faster permitting could help Michiganders see benefits sooner.

“We talked this morning about the Speed Act that passed in the House last week [in the] Natural Resources Committee, which I sit, that reduces the time on task of getting a permit through and getting to the field, the needed reforms,” Walberg said. 

State Rep. Steve Frisbie (R-Pennfield Twp.) says the state is trying to mirror some of the federal efforts bringing more resources to support base load energy.

“Some of the stuff that’s going on at the federal level is mirroring what we’re trying to do at the state level, to bring more resources available to base load energy,” Frisbie said. “And meeting future needs. Not only existing needs, but future needs of what the state is going to need to grow.”

Frisbie says the state is well-positioned to lead the charge in finding new ways to meet today’s energy demands.

“It is happening up by Traverse City, with a great geology to be able to do that and store it so that meets today’s market needs based on business, and industries want to have that to become more carbon neutral,” Frisbie said. 

Walberg says these conversations are only the start — and he expects more roundtables like this one as both sides push for stable, affordable energy.