September 25, 2024 ~ Lucy Ann Lance talks with Jason Hayes, Director of Energy & Environmental Policy, Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Senate Bill 275 in Michigan proposes a clean fuel standard that is projected to increase transportation costs for households by around $350 annually due to a rise in gasoline prices. A study from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy suggests this measure will have minimal environmental impact, reducing global temperatures by only 0.0003 degrees Celsius by 2100. The legislation also allows companies to buy credits, raising doubts about its effectiveness. Critics argue that while Governor Whitmer’s proposed gas tax aims to fund infrastructure repairs, it will primarily benefit low carbon fuel producers rather than address road and bridge needs. This tax is expected to disproportionately affect low-income individuals, including single mothers and blue-collar workers, amid high inflation, forcing families to make tough choices between essentials.