CONTACT: DKC News, MomsCleanAirForce@dkcnews.com
Grand Rapids, MI (May 7, 2026) – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten joined Moms Clean Air Force and community leaders yesterday at the John Ball Area Neighbors in Grand Rapids, Michigan to highlight how the Energy Bills Relief Act restores support for clean energy, lowers costs for ratepayers, protects public health, strengthens our energy infrastructure, and combats the climate crisis.
The legislation will help save families money by expanding access to affordable energy, preventing ratepayers from subsidizing outdated and costly power plants, modernizing our electrical grid, and requiring large energy users, including data centers, to pay their fair share.
Families across the country are already struggling to pay their utility bills. Expanding access to affordable, clean energy is one of the most effective ways Congress can lower costs and provide relief.
Watch the recording HERE.
QUOTES FROM SPEAKERS:
“As a Mom of two boys, I’m focused on building an energy system that is reliable, affordable for working families, and built to meet the needs of the next generation,” said Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, U.S. Representative (MI-03). “Utilities prices are still soaring, and it has never been more important to pass the Energy Bills Relief Act. Our commonsense legislation would restore energy tax credits, incentivize delivery of cheaper power, and make large energy users pay their fair share. This is about lowering costs and strengthening our energy future, and I am committed to getting it done.”
“Families across Michigan and across the country are feeling the strain of rising electricity bills,” says Elizabeth Hauptman, Michigan Field Organizer for Moms Clean Air Force. “For too many, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up. Families are being pushed into impossible choices, keeping the lights on, picking up a prescription, putting food on the table, or paying for other basic needs. And all the while, we’re still living with the health impacts of pollution and outdated energy systems, which especially harms our kids and neighbors who are already more vulnerable.”
“We work in communities that are being treated as expendable in the name of corporate profits, yet we all breathe the same air and we need leaders who will stand up to oil companies and take real action,” said Erica Bouldin, Engagement Coordinator at the Michigan Climate Action Network. “We are hopeful that Representative Scholten’s support for this critical legislation will help bring healthier, more affordable, and reliable renewable energy into communities facing both surging utility bills and the health impacts of the climate crisis.”
“Clean energy is a public health intervention,” says Samantha Pickering, Policy Manager of Public & Environmental Health for Michigan Environmental Council. “By reducing air pollution, we can prevent adverse health outcomes like respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and lessen the cumulative burdens that disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color. Strong investments in clean energy result in equitable health outcomes for everyone.”
“In my thirteen years working with homeowners as a residential Realtor, I’ve seen firsthand how the right energy upgrades do more than just lower a monthly bill—they actually build long-term value and make a house feel more like a home,” says Brett Vredevoogd, Eco Equity Real Estate, Grand Rapids Realtor and Sustainable Housing Advocate. “With utility costs rising and putting a real strain on our neighbors, we need to get serious about systemic solutions that keep homeownership affordable. I support the Energy Bills Relief Act because it addresses those high energy burdens directly, helping us build a more resilient, sustainable future for our community.”