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Climate change 'still' a hoax, says Franz

Eric Carlson
/
Leelanau Enterprise

In 2012, State Representative Ray Franz said he believed global climate change was a “hoax.” When asked about the issue at the same debate Thursday, Franz responded firmly with the word “still" -- and drew some applause in the Glen Arbor Township Hall.

When it was pointed out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had been awarded the Nobel Prize for its work on the issue, Franz shot back, saying concern about climate change is a first step toward global governance.

“I think the title of the organization says it all. It’s the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” said the Republican from Onekama, stressing the first name in the title.

Franz went on to say that he thinks the issue is a scheme to take wealth from nations like the U.S. and distribute it to poorer ones.

Franz also opposes a state requirement for energy companies to generate at least 10 percent of their power from sources that don't produce greenhouse gases, like wind and solar. He co-sponsored a bill to repeal that mandate.

Franz's Democratic opponent in the race, Tom Stobie, told the group that climate change is a serious problem. He would support increasing the mandate to 25 percent over the next decade.

“We cannot rely on fossil fuel forever and so we need to be pointed in that direction,” Stobie said.

The 101st State House District includes Leelanau, Benzie, Manistee and Mason Counties. Wind farms have been a controversial subject in the district and sparked lawsuits in Mason County.

Peter Payette is the Executive Director of Interlochen Public Radio.