Clean, Renewable Energy for Michigan

More coal or clean energy?
Michigan is at an energy crossroads and can’t continue its current dirty path.  According to the Public Service Commission, Michigan may not be able to meet the state’s electricity needs without major investments. The question is where the investments will be spent.  We can continue our dirty, importing energy habits or we can move toward a clean, homegrown energy path that energizes our economy.

The energy industry wants more of the same
Our utilities and their fossil fuels allies are proposing to build expensive new coal or nuclear power plants, funded by charges on your utility bills. Utilities are anxious to continue to reap profits from dangerous and antiquated methods—some basing their solutions on 100 year-old technology.

A better path for Michigan
Environment Michigan’s Renew Michigan with Clean Energy Campaign is using tough minded advocacy to implement real solutions to our state’s energy crisis that clean our air and water and create jobs.   In conjunction with Energy Efficiency a strong commitment to renewable energy will protect our Great Lakes, drastically reduce mercury and global warming pollution, provide cleaner air, and create over 7,000 new jobs and $3 Billion in economic development. This is a truly win-win solution.

What’s New?

Bold Renewable Bills Introduced
Bold Renewable Energy Standard Bills introduced in the House and Senate on March 29, 2007.   The bills (HB4539 & SB385), supported by Environment Michigan, call for 20% of our state’s electricity to come from clean renewable sources by 2020.  This strong commitment to renewable energy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect our air and water, create thousands of jobs and boost our economy.  Click here for press release.

New Study Finds that Clean Energy can Energize Michigan’s Economy
A new report shows that strong clean energy policies provide billions in new salaries and cost savings for Michiganders.  Click here to read the full report.

Michigan Mayors Endorse Renewable Energy
The Michigan Urban Core Mayors endorse a 15% by 2015 Renewable Energy Standard – representing 80% of the state’s population.   See the Mayor’s press statement and renewable endorsement for more information. 

How Can I Help? 
Please take time today to ask your Representative in Lansing to show leadership and commitment to clean renewable energy and support HB 4539.  Click here to help.

Background

Michigan’s Energy Path:  Expensive, Dirty, Dangerous
Michigan’s electricity comes almost exclusively from dirty, imported, nonrenewable sources: 63 percent from coal, 23 percent from nuclear, 10 percent from natural gas and only 3 percent from renewable sources.

We are paying the price for this energy path with our pocketbooks and health. According to the EPA, 7.7 million Michiganders live in areas where the air is literally unsafe to breath. We’re adding thousands of pounds of toxic mercury pollution to our air each year.  And, perhaps worst of all, power plants continue to release millions of tons of global warming pollution – making Michigan the ninth largest global warming polluter among all states; 40 percent of our state’s global warming pollution is from imported coal.

Michigan spends approximately $20 billion per year importing energy resources from other states. This tremendous drain on our economy—approximately $2,000 per Michigan resident—is contributing to our current economic crisis.

Real solutions: Clean air, clean water, more jobs
Down a new energy path:  Michigan already has the technology to make the switch to clean, renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. Renewable sources will protect our environment and health, and will create new jobs to jumpstart Michigan’s economy.

With our economy in crisis, our Great Lakes on the verge of collapse, and our energy path at a crossroads, Michigan needs to take action now.  Michigan can reap tremendous economic and environmental benefits if it implements visionary energy policies, including a strong renewable energy standard that requires 20 percent of our state’s electricity to come from clean renewable sources by 2020.

To be competitive in the 21st Century economy Michigan must look forward and join the 23 other states (and the District of Columbia) that have already implemented renewable energy standards. Our state has enough wind and biomass potential to power millions of homes and businesses while also protecting our environment and revitalizing our local economies.  Michigan can, and should, become a leader in renewable energy and move toward a New Energy Future, a cleaner environment, and a better economy. This will only happen if leadership makes a strong commitment to renewable energy and a smarter energy path now.