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Michigan could get up to 40 percent of its energy from a combination of renewable energy and reducing energy waste, said Gov. Rick Snyder.

(MLive file photo)

WARREN, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder in the energy message he released on Friday said he'd like to have between 30 and 40 percent of Michigan's energy needs be met by a combination of renewable energy and reducing energy waste through energy efficiency efforts.

In terms of strictly renewable energy, Snyder said Michigan could get 19 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.

"You can't have all renewables, most likely, because you have a base load question," Snyder said.

He'd like to make Michigan less dependent on coal, and sees natural gas taking over some of that base load. Under his scenario, if natural gas is more expensive than renewables, Michigan's dependence on coal could be reduced from 54 percent to 34 percent.

That's in contrast to an energy plan from Rep. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, which would leave renewable energy standards at the current 10 percent.

Snyder's plan doesn't include a mandate, however. The current Renewable Portfolio Standards mandate that 10 percent of Michigan's energy come from renewable sources by 2015, which the state is on track to meet.

Under Snyder's vision, another key beyond renewables is stopping energy waste in the first place. In the next decade, Snyder said Michigan should meet at least 15 percent more of its energy needs by eliminating energy waste.

"There is no better answer for affordability, reliability and environmental outcomes than that piece," Snyder said.

Michiganders use 38 percent more energy than the national average, Snyder said. Programs that focus on updating things like insulation, furnaces and water heaters should reduce the amount of energy we need, he added.

He pointed to people like seniors and renters who may not have the up-front resources to update their homes. They could essentially borrow the money to improve their furnace, for example, and pay it back on their monthly utility bill.

The renewable piece drew praise from environmental groups.

"Governor Snyder's call for more clean, renewable energy is a welcome contrast to the reckless energy plans offered by Representative Ray Franz and Representative Aric Nesbitt just last week. We are encouraged to see the Governor release numeric goals for renewable energy and reducing energy waste, but we need to see action on a plan that turns these goals into law and builds upon the success we've seen in Michigan," said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Larry Ward, executive director of the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, said Snyder had laid the groundwork for a clean energy future in Michigan.

"We applaud Snyder for seizing this opportunity and setting bold and measurable goals for increasing our use of clean energy -- including a target of 30-40 percent clean energy over the next 10 years," Ward said.

Snyder said coal plants come with issues. The group MI Air MI Health has consistently said that coal-fired power plants have health impacts.

"We applaud Gov. Rick Snyder for emphasizing the need to reduce energy waste and promote more clean energy -which are critical to reducing pollution that harms people's health," said Dave Errickson, RN, a health fellow for MI Air MI Health. "As a nurse, I see firsthand the devastating impact of pollution on children with asthma and elderly patients with respiratory disease. As health professionals, we urge Gov. Snyder and policymakers in Lansing to factor in the health care implications of the choices we make regarding energy policy."

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.