Forecasters are predicting extreme cold and wet weather for Michigan and the upper Midwest this winter, and experts warn that high energy bills could come with it.

The National Weather Service is calling for extreme temperatures and higher chances of heavy snow, with major storms possible in January and February. Michiganders are being advised to bundle up and take steps now to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient.

David Kolata, executive director of the nonprofit Citizens Utility Board, recommends - if you can afford it - switching from natural gas to an electric heat pump. He said recent advancements have made them more budget-friendly and reliable.

"And that technological improvement has both lowered the price of heat pumps," said Kolata, "but it's also helped them to work in extremely cold temperatures."

Environmental groups say changing from gas to electric heating is good for the climate, but the switch could also save consumers a lot of money.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration warns that gas prices in the Great Lakes states could rise by up to 49% this winter over last year.

Kolata said high heating bills could put some consumers in a financial bind, but adds that energy assistance programs are widely available.

He said in Michigan, regulated utilities are required to offer a Winter Protection Plan to seniors and low-income households to shield them from service cutoffs in freezing weather and make it easier to pay their bills.

"Most utilities that we're aware of do have what's known as budget billing programs," said Kolata. "Those don't save you money over the course of a year, but they smooth out your payments so you pay less in the winter and more in the summer."

Whitney Hayes - research analyst with the nonprofit advocacy group Elevate - said while many people might not be able to afford major changes in their home heating system, there are cost-effective steps they can take to keep warm this winter.

"Even small things like making sure that there's air sealing around windows and doors, electrical sockets, even those things can add up when you kind of seal it in," said Hayes. "Almost 10% of energy savings by doing those small little things."

Clean-energy advocates in Ohio and around the country say now is the time for the government to ensure the nation has the medium- and heavy-duty truck infrastructure needed to keep electric-powered trucks charged and driving across the country.

Trucks transported more than 11 billion tons of freight last year, spewing air pollutants and greenhouse gases along the way.

John Boesel - CEO of CALSTART, a clean-transportation nonprofit group - explained that the Environmental Protection Agency is considering rules to require commercial vehicle manufacturers to drastically curb emissions in the coming years.

But he said the agency should also figure out how to roll out national infrastructure to keep pace with the adoption of EV trucks.

"The Biden administration has a tremendous opportunity to really make progress," said Boesel, "in terms of supporting communities that have disproportionately been impacted by by diesel trucks and pollution."

The roadmap developed by CALSTART calls for building truck-charging stations in areas where industry is already concentrated, and then integrating hubs and corridors into an ever-expanding network - mostly along established supply-chain routes.

Critics say trucking companies and drivers have concerns about EV costs, mileage range, battery weight and safety, charging time and availability.

This year, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the future locations of 27 new electric vehicle charging stations that will be installed along Ohio interstates.

Boesel said the growth of e-commerce has led to skyrocketing emissions, as more people and businesses order products online that are delivered by truck.

He said addressing the impact of heavy-duty vehicle pollution could lower public health risks for drivers, communities and the planet.

"In the future, we can see a society where we have trucks rolling around with zero emission and zero noise," said Boesel, "truck drivers being much happier driving an electric truck."

According to the market research firm PWC, the nation's charging market will need to grow nearly tenfold to meet demand driven by an estimated 27 million EVs on the road by 2030.




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After Coloradans cranked up the heat to welcome family members for Thanksgiving dinner, many are worried about the price they will pay when their utility bill arrives.

Denise Stepto, chief communications officer for Energy Outreach Colorado, which helps struggling families meet their energy needs, said her team saw an especially high volume of calls for help after this season's first cold snap. She noted many are still behind on their utility bills, and do not know how they will keep their homes warm this winter.

"The heat helpline has received 11,000 calls," Stepto reported. "It's a 131% change from the last week. My point is that it tells us that people are not solid going into this winter."

After Coloradans saw bills for natural gas rise by 75% last winter, Gov. Jared Polis issued an eight-page letter calling on state regulators to take any and all actions to lower utility bills. But Polis also warned long-term relief would only come after the state transitions away from fossil fuels to free energy sources like wind and solar.

A City of Denver initiative, which is installing solar canopies over school parking lots, is expected to save hundreds of low-income families up to $700 a year on their utility bills. Energy Outreach Colorado is also partnering with Xcel Energy to identify households qualifying for free Community Solar subscriptions.

"We subscribe households to Xcel's community solar gardens," Stepto pointed out. "That is directly offsetting the cost of electricity in their home. Anything that brings that bill down gives a little bit of relief."

Keeping homes at healthy temperatures is especially challenging for older adults, veterans, people with disabilities and low-wage workers. Cold homes in winter can create serious health problems, including respiratory illness and pneumonia.

Stepto added families needing assistance should call their heat helpline at 866-HEAT-HELP or 866-432-8435.

"People who have children often tell us that they are wrapping their kids in winter gear to go to bed," Stepto emphasized. "It's not healthy for them to be breathing in that cold air. And so you have to keep your home at a manageable, healthy temperature."


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New clean energy legislation in Michigan has passed and is heading to the governor's desk to be signed into law. Backers of the bills said they will allow Michigan to meet its energy needs in a more cost-effective and cleaner manner by improving renewable energy and energy efficiency standards.

Laura Sherman, president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, said the legislation is predicted to create more than 160,000 new, well-paid, nonexportable clean energy jobs for Michiganders.

"Farmers and other landowners who wanted a passive source of income -- to save their family farms, to harvest solar or wind energy -- were being prevented by decisions made at the local level by a minority of voices, and a whole lot of fearmongering and unfounded concerns," Sherman asserted.

Sherman pointed out the legislation will also lower household electricity bills by investing in more affordable energy sources and capturing federal benefits. It is expected to help people save money through expanded energy efficiency programs, including insulation, window and lighting upgrades.

One goal of the legislation is to help transition the state to more renewable energy sources.

William Chilman, superintendent of Beal City Public Schools in Isabella County, thinks the transition should mean diversifying the energy grid, increasing tax revenue for communities, bringing in clean energy business investment, and potentially lowering energy costs long-term.

Chilman argued Michigan should aim for a mix of fossil fuels and renewable energy to avoid overreliance on any one source.

"We should be trying to develop as many different types of energy as we possibly can, to make it more difficult for that grid to come crashing down at some point or another," Chilman contended. "If we have different ways to feed that grid, the better off we're all going to be."

He noted a wind farm in his local township has generated more than $10 million in new tax revenue for itself, for Isabella County and schools, including more than $1.5 million to his district. Chilman added the challenge will be building solar or wind capacity while avoiding using too much acreage, which can coexist with farmland.


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