Sierra Club on Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tim Minotas

tim.minotas@sierraclub.org

(248) 961-9610

Sierra Club on Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address

Lansing, MI -- Today, Governor Gretchen delivered her fourth State of the State address, highlighting past accomplishments, her vision, and new initiatives to protect and put Michiganders first.

At the Detroit Diesel powertrain factory, Governor Whitmer put forward five new proposals to grow Michigan’s economy, including a $2,500 electric vehicle rebate that will help lower the costs of EVs in Michigan. She also took the time to call for investments in Michigan’s infrastructure after decades of neglect. Since taking office, Governor Whitmer has invested over $2 billion in water infrastructure supporting over 30,000 jobs.

In response to the governor’s speech, Sierra Club released the following statements:

"Michigan is the birthplace of the automotive industry. The vision for an all-electric future laid out tonight by Governor Whitmer represents an opportunity for Michigan to continue its leadership in the automotive industry and pave the way into a clean transportation future that saves consumers money, spurs economic growth, innovation, job creation, and protects public health. However, Michigan also needs to think more broadly to make the transportation system work for all residents. Providing access to more affordable transportation modes such as public transportation, walking, and biking should be a key goal for the future clean transportation system. We look forward to continuing our work with the Governor and her team in this important space." - Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter 

"Governor Whitmer delivered on her promise to clean up our water, and we must continue this investment in years to come. It is fiscally responsible to fix infrastructure before the costs of repair skyrocket, and Governor Whitmer is making the right choice by pushing for investments." -  Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter 

##

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 4 million members and supporters nationwide and over 150,000 in Michigan. 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/Michigan.

Brewery Founder Larry Bell is Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Environmentalist of the Year

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, January 10, 2022

More information:  Gail Philbin 616-805-3063/gail.philbin@sierraclub.org

Brewery Founder Larry Bell is Sierra Club 

Michigan Chapter Environmentalist of the Year

LANSING, MI–Three years after their massive 2010 oil pipeline rupture along the Kalamazoo River, Canada’s oil transport giant, Enbridge, decided Comstock Township would be a good place to put toxic dredge from their cleanup operations.  

But Enbridge didn’t tell local officials about the dredge pad, didn’t have permits and didn’t see Larry Bell coming. Bell, founder and president of Bell’s Brewery, sued Enbridge, forcing them to halt their dredge dumping operations, which threatened to pollute the water and air near Bell’s nearby Comstock brewery.  Bell went on to help create and lead the Great Lakes Business Network five years ago and spearheaded the campaign among Michigan businesses to shut down Enbrige’s Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. 

Today, Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter announced that Larry Bell is their Environmentalist of the Year, the first time in the award’s 30-year history the organization has chosen to honor a business owner who is not a philanthropist. Environmentalist of the Year is the group’s highest honor.

“Larry Bell’s fact-based, non-partisan and pragmatic advocacy has illuminated the dangers of the ticking time bomb that threatens the Great Lakes every day Line 5 is allowed to operate in the Straits of Mackinac,” said Gail Philbin, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter state director. “He and other visionary leaders in the Great Lakes Business Network are indispensible voices for businesses who understand how vital it is that we protect our Great Lakes.”  

For Bell, who first earned his environmental chops as a Boy Scout volunteering with his local Sierra Club group in Illinois, Enbridge’s Line 5 was an awakening that began with the 1.2 million-gallon Kalamzoo oil spill, the largest in the state’s history. 

“When the spill happened 30 miles away from us, the oil came down the Kalamazoo River and started impacting us,” recalled Bell.  “Our eyes were opened. Then we found out there was this pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.  It was unbelievable that this company owned those pipelines in the Straits.  I said, ‘Hell, yes, I’m in.’” 

Bell, who sold his iconic brewery in 2021, said he plans to increase his environmental work. 

“I can be stronger now in my sentiments and work harder for the causes I care about,” said Bell.

In addition to Bell,15 other organizations and individuals are being honored this year by Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter.  A virtual awards event will be held at 1pm Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. 

Two environmental journalism awards were also announced today by Sierra Club. The Great Lakes News Collaborative and Stephanie Cepak, a communications specialist with Byrum & Fisk Communications, were both honored for their work advancing environmental and energy issues within the news media. 

Other Sierra Club awards went to: 

Lifetime Excellence Award: Helen LeBlanc

Marlene Fluharty Award: Lee Burton

Sylvania Award: Androni Henry

White Pine Award:  The Grand Haven Energy Organization and Urban Core Collective 

Trillium Award:  Spartan Sierra Club

Theodore Roosevelt Political Leadership Award: Southeast Michigan Group Political Committee

Digital Excellence Award: Julie Geisinger

Service Awards:  Brad Kent, Jane O’Neil, Denise Trabbic-Pointer, Lori Dostal and Vicki Olsen

More information on the Sierra Club awards and to register for the Feb. 5 awards event go to:

https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/chapter-awards

SIERRA CLUB GETS A HEAD START ON 2022 ELECTION

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Tim Minotas

248-961-9610

tim.minotas@sierraclub.org

SIERRA CLUB GETS A HEAD START ON 2022 ELECTION

The 150,000 members and supporters of the Michigan Chapter of the Sierra Club are ready to campaign in Michigan communities to talk to residents about clean water resources and infrastructure, clean energy, and protection of our public lands. All because the future of the Great Lakes and Michigan’s clean energy economy will be on the line in 2022.

As a first step, Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter has done a deep dive into the positions taken by all members of the Michigan Legislature and is announcing today its early endorsement candidates. Sierra Club is the nation’s oldest environmental advocacy organization and its track record of holding candidates accountable for their positions on key issues like investment in clean renewable energy, environmental justice, and drinking water protection is unmatched. The endorsements being announced today are incumbents who have sponsored critical environmental legislation; have outstanding voting records this legislative session on pro-environment bills and have supported the Sierra Club’s social justice initiatives.

The environmental champions who are endorsed by the Club for re-election in 2022 are:

State House

Padma Kuppa (D)

Kelly Breen (D)

Ranjeev Puri (D)

Lori Stone (D)

Julie Rogers (D)

Regina Weiss (D)

Felicia Brabec (D)

Kara Hope (D)

Rachel Hood (D)

Abraham Aiyash (D)

Laurie Pohutsky (D)

Christine Morse (D)

State Senate

Stephanie Chang (D)

Jeremy Moss (D)

Rosemary Bayer (D)

Jeff Irwin (D)

Erika Geiss (D)

Winnie Brinks (D)

Mallory McMorrow (D)

Sean McCann (D)

“It is extremely important that we support incumbent pro environment legislators.” said Tim Minotas, Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Some of these incumbents may have close races, and it’s important for us to support champions who have proved their commitment to climate, public health, and clean water through their voting records and active advocacy.”

“Michigan needs fighters in the Michigan legislature, and these candidates are trusted, steadfast environmental champions, who protect the health of Michigan’s environment and the well-being of our families”, said Christy McGillivray, Political Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.

“Sierra Club volunteers should make a commitment right now to work with our endorsed candidates and campaigns and to identify and turn out voters who are concerned about the state’s environmental and energy policies”, said Mark Meadows, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, “We need all hands on deck to make sure that Clean energy jobs, environmental protection, and protection of the Great Lakes from oil spills and other degradation remain at the forefront of Michigan’s political objectives.  

##

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 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. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)