NEWS RELEASE: Clean air advocates applaud creation of Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Monday, Feb. 4, 2019

Contact: Nick Dodge, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, (517) 333-1606

Clean air advocates applaud creation of Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy

LANSING – Clean air and water advocates across the state today applauded Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for announcing the Department of Environmental Quality will be reorganized and replaced by a new Department of the Environment, Great Lakes and Energy [more details here].  Gov. Whitmer also announced Michigan will join the U.S. Climate Alliance to combat the impacts of climate change to Michigan communities, our air, Great Lakes and natural resources.

“Gov. Whitmer’s action sets a clear tone for how her administration is going to tackle climate change, protect the Great Lakes and our communities. We applaud Gov. Whitmer for taking a strong stance on climate change and fighting for our air, land, water and public health,” said Mike Berkowitz, legislative and political director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.

"With the alarming recent climate reports from the world's top scientists and the rollbacks of our clean air and water protections at the federal level, urgent action on climate change is more important than ever. Today’s announcement shows that Michigan takes climate change seriously and aims to be a leader in promoting clean energy and fighting climate change," said Kate Madigan, director of the Michigan Climate Action Network. 

“Gov. Whitmer’s announcement is a step in the right direction toward reducing dangerous pollution in our Great Lakes, rivers, streams and drinking water and speeding up Michigan’s transition to clean, renewable energy. As the Great Lakes state, Michigan should be leading the way on combating climate change, and we applaud Gov. Whitmer for pushing our state to do better,” said Mary Brady-Enerson, Michigan director for Clean Water Action.

"The impacts of climate change are already hurting our families, industries, and natural resources across the state. More extreme weather like the recent life-threatening cold across the Midwest or Michigan’s historic flood of 2014 will only become more frequent,” said Ariana Gonzalez, senior policy analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “With this announcement, Governor Whitmer and her administration are saying that we refuse to sit by idly as our health and economy are put at risk.”

###