FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Contact: Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
Sierra Club Applauds Governor Whitmer’s Climate Action
Michigan Becomes One of Nine States Committed to Carbon Neutrality by 2050
Lansing, Michigan-- Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an executive action to make Michigan a leader on mitigating climate change. This economy-wide greenhouse gas emission reduction goal makes Michigan one of only nine states in the country with a full carbon neutrality commitment. The Governor’s action specifically will:
Achieve economy-wide carbon neutrality in Michigan by 2050 (with an interim goal of 28% reductions by 2025),
Reduce government facility energy use by 40% by 2040,
Ensure all new buildings and renovations be carbon neutral by 2040,
Make all state facilities powered by 100% renewable energy either on site or purchased off the grid by 2040,
Direct the Michigan Department of Treasury to launch a just transition initiative aimed at supporting communities and workers when fossil fuel facilities retire,
Direct the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to develop a comprehensive environmental justice analysis to be utilized by the Michigan Public Service Commission in utility Integrated Resource Planning (long-term energy planning), and
Create an Advisory Council on Climate Solutions to oversee and guide implementation of these goals.
In response, the Sierra Club compiled the following statements:
“Every Michigander deserves to have access to clean air and water but for so many years, environmental justice communities have had to carry heavy burdens of pollution. Addressing climate change is not just about saving our environment, this is also an opportunity to protect our communities from harmful pollution and create jobs by making meaningful investments. Michigan has an opportunity to lead on climate action by centering public health and environmental justice, and Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan represents this shared commitment to a future where all Michiganders can live in a healthy environment. The Sierra Club applauds Governor Whitmer’s bold leadership and we are excited to work together to address a climate crisis that will continue to shape our state and nation for many years to come,” said Justin Onwenu, Healthy Communities and Environmental Justice Organizer for Sierra Club.
Sophie Stoepker, Sierra Club’s West Michigan Clean Energy Organizer said, “We recognize that the coal industry has provided jobs and energy for many years across the state of Michigan. However, we also recognize the immense toll that these polluting power plants have on communities and the advancements in technology that allow us to address this. By making the transition off of coal to clean, renewable sources of energy, we understand that there must be many concerns from impacted workers and community members, and that is why the Sierra Club is thankful to have a leader like Governor Whitmer who takes these considerations to heart and addresses the need for just transition planning. We look forward to working alongside the Governor, community members, and power plant workers to create plans that will provide jobs, economic prosperity, and establish healthy communities for all of Michigan.”
“With climate driven disasters around the world to historic floods here at home, we are witnessing the disruptive impacts of climate change. The burdens of this crisis will fall most heavily on workers, low-income communities, and the most vulnerable. Thankfully, Governor Whitmer’s announcement provides the leadership required to move forward. To accomplish this, Michigan must implement the largest energy transition in more than a century. Communities that have depended on fossil fuels for their livelihoods must be among the first to share in the economic benefits from clean, renewable energy. However, we are confident that this administration’s plan can meet the challenges of reaching a cleaner, better future. The Sierra Club is ready to work together with Governor Whitmer to build a clean economy, preserve our natural environment, and stand with workers,” said Andrew Sarpolis, senior organizing representative for the Beyond Coal Campaign.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
