FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Contact: Mike Berkowitz
248-345-9808
248-345-9808
Mike.Berkowitz@sierraclub.org
Sierra
Club Endorses Mark Schauer for Governor of Michigan
Detroit, M.I.
-- Today, the Sierra Club announced its endorsement of Mark Schauer as the
clear choice in Michigan’s gubernatorial race in 2014.
“Mark Schauer’s Michigan values mean
support for policies that protect our Great Lakes system and strong, renewable
energy standards that will transition us from older energy sources toward
cleaner energy that is better for our families and our future,” said David
Holtz, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Chair. "Michigan was once a leader
in preserving and protecting our Great Lakes and natural resources, but Gov.
Snyder has failed to embrace the Milliken-era values that protected and
preserved one of our state's strongest economic engines. He has been a
huge disappointment.”
Mark Schauer has supported
comprehensive plans to create new clean energy jobs in Michigan while taking
action to protect our communities from the consequences of climate disruption.
As Governor, Schauer has made it clear that he would support a strong renewable
energy standard for Michigan and energy efficiencies that would significantly
reduce pollution while putting tens of thousands of Michiganders back to work.
That is a stark contrast to the record of Schauer’s opponent.
“Governor Snyder has had nearly four
years to deliver clean energy jobs and put in place strong protections against
the ever-increasing expansion of new deep well gas drilling in Michigan,”
said Mike Berkowitz, Political Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Instead,
he’s given Michiganders false promises and said we must wait for the next
governor to do something on clean energy while the oil and gas industry continues
deep well fracking without protections for our water or our citizens’ health.
On these and a range of issues involving Michigan’s land, air and water,
the governor has failed to deliver for everyone who cares about our health and
natural resources.”
Schauer has consistently voted to
protect Michigan’s lakes, rivers, and streams while taking action to curb
climate disruption by cracking down on unregulated carbon pollution. In the
state Senate, he authored legislation to protect the Great Lakes and has
opposed efforts to endanger them with unregulated drilling while championing
bills to expand Michigan’s rapidly growing clean energy economy. Snyder, on the
other hand, has approved new dirty coal facilities, unnecessary mines, and
dangerous deep injection wells.
“I voted for Rick Snyder in 2010
because he advertised himself as a moderate who would protect our Great Lakes,
but now I regret that decision" said James D'Amour, Vice Chair of the
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter's Political Committee. "Governor Snyder
has been a disappointment to Republicans like me who care about clean water and
air. We need Mark Schauer to be Michigan's next Governor so he can stand up for
clean energy, take action to curb the climate crisis, and protect our Great
Lakes.”
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About the Sierra
Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential
grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and
supporters nationwide, and over 150,000 in Michigan. In addition to creating
opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful
outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our
communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through
grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more
information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.
Paid
for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906) and authorized by Mark Schauer for
Governor.
