Rapid Response Action Call: Our Steelworkers Don’t Have Time to Wait

Click here to download this Action Call as a PDF.

We have been fighting for nearly a year to protect jobs and keep energy costs affordable in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and now time is running out. If the State Senate does not act before the end of the year, a recent decision by an Administrative Law Judge could raise energy costs for residents and put hundreds of Steelworker jobs at the Tilden Mine in danger.

Here is what is at stake:

On October 27, a judge issued a recommendation on Upper Michigan Energy Resources’ plan to expand renewable energy. This recommendation would harm customers in the Upper Peninsula (usw.to/5i9).

• Future energy cases could bring even higher increases, making energy unaffordable for families and threatening nearly 900 Steelworker jobs at the Tilden Mine.
• The judge recommended approval of the plan for 2026 and 2027. This means Tilden Mine would pay 5.3 million dollars more in 2026 and 6.4 million dollars more in 2027, mostly for a solar project that does not benefit the mine.
• The company proposed adding over 1,300 megawatts of renewable energy and battery storage over the next ten years at a cost of 4.3 billion dollars to local energy customers.
• All Upper Peninsula customers would see 10.6 million dollars in extra charges in 2026 and 12.9 million dollars in 2027, with these costs starting to be collected in January 2026.

The Senate must act now by passing House Bills 4007 and 4283, bipartisan bills that already passed the House. These bills would fix Michigan’s Clean Energy Law and stop the crushing costs that could devastate the U.P. economy.

This is about people, not politics. Lawmakers on both sides already came together in the House. Now the Senate must finish the job before the end of the year. Senators McMorrow and McCann can help make that happen.

Tell Michigan State Senators Mallory McMorrow and Sean McCann to Protect U.P. Jobs and Stop Massive Rate Hikes!
Click HERE to send a pre-written email today!

For additional information, please contact District 1 Rapid Response Coordinator Sue Browne at sbrowne@usw.org or 269-838-5956.