Those who oppose new coal fired electrical power plants for Michigan may have been disappointed Oct. 6. Rain had been forecast. Lansing’s morning cloud cover seemed expectant. Yet as the rally for new base load capacity began on our state capitol lawn, the sky cleared. The day grew bright. Umbrellas disappeared, replaced by sunglasses.

The Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council had predicted some 2,000 skilled building trades people would attend the three hour event. From what we could see it appeared the figure was achieved if not exceeded.

It was a well-mannered crowd, full of energy to cheer and chant when called upon. Judging from how its members stood and what was said, they meant business. Few would dismiss the workers as cranks.

“Build These Plants!” Whenever a speaker belted out those words the crowd roared. And while most of the coverage we’ve seen in the general news media was superficial, if not juvenile in some cases. The speakers at the rally imparted information that clearly illustrated the situation’s absurdity.

By now our readers are well aware of the delays that have been thwarting the construction of the over $1 billion coal-fired facility proposed by Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, a 540- megawatt station for Rogers City, and the over $2 billion project planned by Consumers Energy, the 930-megawatt unit intended for its Karn-Weadock complex in Hampton Township, near Bay City.

Though Michigan’s construction industry is still awaiting final word from the state Department of Environmental Quality on the air quality permits for the plants, the Michigan Public Service Commission has said they are unneeded.

The MPSC used what we’ve called skewed logic. In voicing its objection the commission did not take into account Michigan’s old but still operational coal plants, with their old pollution control systems, that can be retired when these new plants, with their state of the art emission technologies, go on line.

Clearly it’s also not anticipating the rapid growth in electrical demand that will hit when economic recovery gets under way. Such expansion should be well accelerating in five years, when the new plants are ready to generate.

Assuming the state allows them to be built.

But that’s not the whole picture. State Sen. Bruce Patterson, a Republican from the Seventh District and chair of the Michigan Senate Energy Policy Committee, was one of several speakers who pointed out that if Michigan doesn’t build enough base load capacity for its future, rate payers — we bill-paying consumers —could be placed in a bad position.

Our state would not be able to supply sufficient electricity to attract additional commercial and industrial investment. Worse, we’d be forced to make up demand shortfalls by buying electricity in the spot market, where prices can be very expensive.

“This is not a partisan issue,” he emphasized. “This is an issue continually important to us, for our children, our grandchildren, and on out into the future. To make sure that we don’t have a society crumbling around us, we must find a balance. We want to work. And work together for a better Michigan. And we want to be independent in this state. We want to be in a position to sell energy to other states, not rely on those other states to sell us energy.”

Republicans invited to the podium took the opportunity to criticize Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, but even House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford Township) was none too happy with her administration.

“I feel betrayed,” he said. “Three years ago I had a dream to have new base load built in this state. After we put up a very tough vote, the bureaucrats stepped up and took it away from us.”

Other speakers, including Shorty Gleason, the Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council president, emphasized hard support for alternative energy technologies, including wind and solar power. But just as we’ve been continuing to point out, though great strides are being made, at present they are not mature enough to directly compete against base load electricity generated by fossil or nuclear fuels.

In addition, observing that solar cell manufacturers in the Bay County area are using large amounts of electricity, Mr. Gleason said that without sufficient base load capacity, it won’t be long before Michigan will be unable to attract such companies.

At present they require massive amounts of base load electricity from conventional fuels to put their alternative technologies together.

What’s really terrible about the situation, he said, is at a time when the need to build the conventional plants is clear, and jobs in Michigan are in such short supply due to the recession, environmental politics within our state government is holding back over $3 billion in private investment. Not economic stimulus funds from the federal government. Private investment.

According to Mr. Gleason, building the Wolverine and Consumers projects would put 5,000 skilled trades workers back on the job. Some 34 million man-hours would be required. It would generate $1 billion in payroll over five years and $100 million in health benefits. State government would receive $44 million in income and $14 million in sales tax revenues. Local governments would get $42 million in property taxes. And when the plants were placed on line, fewer toxics would be vented into Michigan’s atmosphere.

“With all this support,” said Charles Brunner, mayor of Bay City, “what is the problem? Put us to work!”