October 19, 2012
Michigan

House candidates debate at Lakers

By Nich Wolak, Tribune Staff Writer | Huron Daily Tribune | October 19, 2012 | www.michigansthumb.com

PIGEON — Wednesday night’s debate between the candidates for Michigan’s 84th District House seat touched on the subjects of jobs, agriculture and education, but the area where they differed the most was renewable energy expansion. As Lakers FFA members asked questions, the high school auditorium was filled with head nodding. It was the issue of energy where the candidates began to clearly talk along party lines.

Dan Grimshaw (R-Vassar) said government should not support power companies’ efforts to expand renewable energy.

“Anybody who wants to expand a business with their own money, is welcome to do it,” Grimshaw said. “(But) when they come to me as a taxpayer, and ask for me to pay it? My answer is ‘no.’ Whether it’s windmills, ethanol, or any other plant. They cannot stand on their own, at least windmills cannot, and neither can solar without tax credits from the federal government.”

He said that wind energy is ineffective, and that a larger number of wind turbines would take more land out of farm production.

“Wind energy is not the future for our country,” Grimshaw said. “It will not power factories. It won’t power a hospital because it’s inconsistent. There are too many days when we don’t have wind. I wouldn’t take my chances on going to a hospital with a windmill outside of it for an operation, hoping the wind is going to blow.

“I think we need to re-configure our though processes. We need to go back to reality of what can produce energy at low cost, to keep the cost down for all of us. It’s coal, natural gas and nuclear. We have to look at all of those things. That’s the answer, it’s not more windmills. … I say pull the plug on them now.”

Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) said that renewable energy is an important piece to protecting the environment and making progress in energy independence.

“It’s important that we do everything we can to protect Mother Nature,” Brown said. “… Our very livelihood (is) dependent on how we take care of our environment around us. That is important. If that is not worth spending some money and putting some thought with (then I don’t know what is). … Government does have to give some incentives once in a while.”

Brown went on to point out that Pigeon’s Blue Diamond Castings, as an example Grimshaw had cited earlier as a business that had grown from efforts within, was able to expand in part because the state provided infrastructure such as the water, power and gas lines.

True to his role as an independent, Sebewaing resident Dr. Edward J. “Ned” Canfield’s views fell somewhere in between those of Grimshaw and Brown.

“I like the idea of green energy, but I do not believe green energy at this point is cost-effective,” Canfield said. “I do believe that we can subsidize it to a degree. If our communities want it in our areas then they can make that choice. They should be expected to pay … (more) taxes if they do that.”