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Burning materials like tires could count as renewable energy under a bill passed by the House on Thursday.

(file photo)

LANSING, MI – The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday passed 63-46 legislation that would count fuel from burning solid waste as a renewable energy source, something environmentalists say is "irresponsible."

HB 5205, sponsored by Rep. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, aims to remove barriers to the use of solid waste as a clean energy source.

It would revise the definition of renewable energy sources in the state's Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act to add fuel that has been manufactured from waste. The act establishes a renewable energy standard that the state's electric providers must meet: 10 percent renewable energy by 2015.

But with this change, environmental groups say the state is taking a step backward on renewable energy.

"The House should be focused on expanding true clean, renewable energy, not allowing polluters to burn tires and call it 'renewable energy,'" said Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. "House Bill 5205 is nothing more than a dangerous plan to pollute our air, land and water. It sets a dangerous precedent by changing the scientific definition of renewable energy."

Nesbitt said that new technologies allow for the burning of non-recyclable plastics and other materials with low emissions, a better option than putting the waste in landfills. As chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee he's been pursuing what he calls an all of the above energy policy focused on diverse energy sources.

"Whether it's tires or other things, that's already happening and the environmentalists, these extreme environmental groups will stop at nothing to prevent our progress toward an all of the above energy policy," Nesbitt said.

Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, spoke against the bill during House session on Thursday, saying it made "a mockery of renewable energy and a mockery of this Legislature."

But Rep. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, spoke favorably of the bill, saying it seemed like a productive use of waste.

"There are piles of tires out of the middle of nowhere... let's do something with them," McBroom said.

In committee the bill was supported by groups including Dow Chemical, Michigan State University and the Michigan Chemistry Council. Environmental groups opposed the legislation.

Emily Lawler is a Capitol/Lansing business reporter for MLive. You can reach her at elawler@mlive.com, subscribe to her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter: @emilyjanelawler.