MIchigan League of Conservation Voters: Political Week in Review

From Michigan League of Conservation Voters:

Posted July 9, 2012

530,000. That is the amount of signatures submitted to state election officials on Friday to place the 25 percent by 2025 Renewable Energy Standard on the November ballot. The public support for this initiative is so overwhelming, the campaign blew past the required 322,000 signatures. This means we are now entering the next phase of the campaign. Brace yourselves, because the momentum will only continue to build from here!

Click here to read more in the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Political Week in Review.

Transit workers' union backs Michigan renewable energy ballot proposal

LANSING -- The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), a statewide organization representing Michigan public transit workers, has endorsed a Michigan ballot initiative that would raise the use of renewable energy to 25 percent by 2025.

The Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs initiative is collecting petition signatures to put the 25 percent renewable energy standard before voters in November.

A resolution adopted by the ATU states, "Investing in more renewable energy will also help diversify Michigan’s economy, especially Michigan’s manufacturing sector, attracting new investments and opening the door for companies and workers to innovate and diversify so they can truly compete in the 21st Century energy economy."

The ballot proposal also includes strong consumer protections by limiting rate increases to no more than 1 percent in any year. That equates to no more than $1.25 per month for families and businesses to get more of their power from clean, renewable sources.

"We know using public transit helps reduce air pollutants, but we should also be powering our homes and businesses with cleaner, more renewable sources of energy, which is why we support the ballot initiative," said Katie Kelley, president of the ATU Michigan Legislative Conference Board. "Michigan shouldn’t be left in the wake of other states that already have stronger renewable energy standards."*

Mark Fisk, spokesman for Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs, commended ATU members for endorsing the ballot initiative.

"We are thankful for the support of ATU members," Fisk said. "Workers understand this proposal will create more jobs in Michigan that can’t be outsourced."

More information on the ballot initiative can be found at www.MienergyMIjobs.com.

* Editor's Note: See how Michigan compares with other states on renewable energy goals in this week's Michigan League of Conservation Voters Political Week in Review (PWIR). See especially the article, "Gov. Chris Christie Approves 22.5% by 2021 for New Jersey."

Utilities find wind is cheaper than expected

By Ryan Werder, Michigan League of Conservation Voters (LCV)
Posted Feb. 20, 2012, on Michigan LCV's Political Week in Review (PWIR)*

Utilities are on track to meet the 2008 renewable energy standard of 10 percent by 2015, according to a new report by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The really cool news, though, is that this official and non-partisan Commission found that it is much cheaper to build and purchase renewable energy than they had originally forecast.

We know that reports on energy usage aren't as thrilling as the Red Wings' home-game win streak, but the numbers in here really are exciting. For example, in 2011, $78.6 million was invested in renewable energy in Michigan. Another fun fact: With wind energy coming in cheaper than anticipated, Consumers Energy dropped its renewable energy surcharge from $2.50 to 65 cents, saving their customers $22 a year, on average.

As I've said before, the common sense economics of clean energy will continue to win out as it becomes more prevalent in Michigan. Gamesa, a Spanish company which produces wind turbines in the US, announced recently that it is going to build some of that renewable energy capacity in the Upper Peninsula. Gamesa is constructing a 28 megawatt wind farm in Garden Township, southwest of Manistique. Gamesa, you may remember, is also negotiating another contract to construct a Muskegon County wind farm.**

The outcome of all this investment in Michigan? Jobs for Michigan workers, savings for Michigan ratepayers. I love typing up this kind of news.

With your vote, you can ensure that I can send you more of the same great news long into the future. Construction, manufacturing, servicing, and maintenance jobs for renewable energy projects like the Garden Wind Farm will increase dramatically if Michigan residents vote for the proposed 25 percent by 2025 Renewable Energy Standard (RES) in November. The RES builds upon the 2008 measure, and will put us ahead of neighboring states like Minnesota, Illinois, and Ohio that are outpacing us right now.

* Visit Michigan LCV's new Facebook page to sign up for updates like the PWIR.
Click here for more PWIR news, including candidate Mitt Romney's comment on Michigan trees.

** Click here to read about Gamesa's U.P. wind farm.

Michigan LCV: Renewable energy could mean 21,000 Michigan jobs

By Ryan Werder, Michigan League of Conservation Voters
Posted Feb. 13, 2012
Reprinted with permission

On Feb. 8, 2012, the Energy Innovation Business Council (EIBC) released a fascinating report on renewable energy jobs in Michigan. We'll summarize it in a sentence: Renewable energy manufacturing in Michigan could become a $4.9 billion industry supporting 21,000 jobs by 2015.*

At this point we're talking about big numbers, so please take a moment to pause and reflect on the thousands of families whose lives would improve if they were just one of those 21,000 new jobs. Exciting, right? It is sometimes too easy to get lost in the statistics of asthma rates from coal, jobs from new clean energy projects, billions of dollars in the budget, etc. If we don't remember the faces behind the statistics from time to time, we risk forgetting why we spend so much time researching them in the first place.

Anyway, back to the question of what to do with these crucial numbers in this report. As we've discussed previously, Michigan citizens have the unique opportunity to decide if they want to reach for a future that includes these new clean energy jobs. We firmly believe that an increased Renewable Energy Standard (RES) that is proposed for this November’s ballot would guarantee that future by ensuring that Michigan achieves 25 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2025.**

Renewable energy manufacturing, installation, and maintenance jobs will go where the demand is. Just because MSU beat Ohio State at basketball this weekend doesn't mean we're beating the state of Ohio in the fight for more jobs; they have a renewable energy standard of their own that is out-rebounding us for jobs. We can begin to box them out with this ballot initiative.

For more on the success stories already in Michigan based on clean energy, check out my live-tweeting from the EIBC's launch in the State Capitol.***

So you don't miss it in the future, you can follow us in the future by clicking here.

* Click here for the LCV's Feb. 12 post, "New Advanced Energy Business Coalition Strengthens Renewables' Political Voice."

** See Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs on this ballot initiative.

*** Click here for more Twitter updates.

Visit the Michigan League of Conservation Voters Web site for more articles and political news related to environmental topics.

Michigan LCV Action alert: Protect Natural Resources Trust Fund

In 1976, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund was created to acquire and develop outdoor recreation property with the proceeds of royalties from oil and gas wells drilled on public land.

In 1984, the citizens of Michigan voted the Trust Fund into the Constitution to protect it from politically-motivated legislators.

Now, in 2012, some legislators want it back.

The Natural Resources Trust Fund Board recently approved 41 projects in 25 counties that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities and create jobs in dozens of local townships.

Two-thirds of the funding will go directly to local projects, and the rest will protect new state recreation land.

State legislators, however, are threatening to deny some of these projects. In 2010, the Trust Fund received a record infusion of money from gas and oil leases, and some legislators have other ideas for the money than outdoor recreation.

Please tell Representatives Jon Bumstead (R - Newago) and Stephen Lindberg (D - Marquette) -- House Appropriations Natural Resources Sub-Committee Chair and Vice Chair -- to reject any attempt to interfere with the Trust Fund and to immediately pass HB 5364 to fund these projects.

Click here to take action.