What's New
There’s no question that Michigan has the technological know-how to
dramatically reduce our dependence on oil and other fossil fuels. We
can make cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas. Wind turbines and
solar panels can supply power to millions of homes and businesses. We
can make high-performance products and buildings that use a fraction of
the energy we use today.
And with war raging in the Middle East, oil and gas prices surging, and
global warming threatening our future, we cannot wait. We need to start
now. That’s why we asked candidates for office during the 2006 elections to endorse a strong, no-nonsense plan to move our state
toward a bold, new energy future.
How You Can Help
Click here to ask your lawmaker to continue to make moving Michigan towards a new energy future a top priority.
Background
There’s no question that Michigan
has the technological know-how to dramatically reduce our dependence on oil and
other fossil fuels. We can make cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas. Wind
turbines and solar panels can supply power to millions of homes and businesses.
We can make high-performance products and buildings that use a fraction of the
energy we use today. We’re asking citizens to join us in calling on candidates
to endorse a bold and sensible plan to move Michigan toward a new energy
future.
It’s time for a new energy future.
For decades, government policy favored
the oil industry and other powerful energy interests over energy conservation
and emerging renewable energy technologies. But now there’s momentum for
change. With gas prices passing $3 per gallon, Americans are demanding cars
that get better mileage. A June 2006 poll found 79 percent favor standards of
at least 40 miles per gallon. With the effects of global warming showing up in
our own back yards, 82 percent of Americans support increasing renewable
energy. Even President Bush admits that America is “addicted to oil,” and
many in Congress are reconsidering their positions on energy conservation and
clean energy. But real change will only come when our elected officials are
held accountable for concrete actions that can put our country on a new energy
path.
We’re calling on candidates for office across Michigan
to let voters know where they stand on the following:
1) Harnessing homegrown, renewable, clean energy sources.
I support using homegrown, renewable clean energy sources to produce at least
25% of Michigan’s
electricity by 2025. Michigan
has tremendous renewable energy potential.
Wind power alone could generate enough electricity for the state, thus
creating jobs and stemming the export of our hard-earned money to other states
and countries – currently a $20 billion/year economic drain – in return for dirty,
expensive energy. Michigan
should join the 21 states with a Renewable Energy (Portfolio) Standard.
2) Saving energy with high-performance homes and businesses.
If we do nothing, our energy use will continue to increase, leading to even
higher prices and reduced economic activity. Saving energy costs less
than half of building new power plants, and can be done quickly and safely
while creating new jobs and reducing pollution.
Therefore, I support requiring at least 10% energy use reduction for
electricity and home heating by 2025. I
also support minimum efficiency requirements for key appliances and industrial
equipment, which would save consumers $2.5 billion over the next 25 years.
3) Investing in a new energy future.
Michigan
needs to create bold initiatives that would finance aggressive research and
development of energy saving and renewable energy technologies. Therefore, I support Michigan
committing at least $5 billion over the next 10 years – including current
investments in the 21st Century Jobs Fund and elsewhere – to energy ventures
that would catapult Michigan
into a national energy leader.
