Sierra Club Statement on Permit Approval or Ajax Asphalt Plant in Genesee Township

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Gail Philbin, Gail.Philbin@sierraclub.org

 

Sierra Club Statement on Permit Approval or Ajax Asphalt Plant in Genesee Township

 

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) approval of an air permit for the Ajax Materials Corp. asphalt plant in Genesee Township near a low-income housing complex spotlights the urgent need for reform of environmental regulations that address the cumulative impacts of industrial pollution. Sierra Club Michigan Chapter released this statement on the issue, which can be attributed to Gail Philbin, Sierra Club Michigan director:

“EGLE's decision to issue an air permit to the Ajax Materials Corp. proposed asphalt plant demonstrates the need to strengthen our federal and state environmental standards as they apply to communities in heavily industrialized areas. Sierra Club supports the Flint based coalition members and environmental law firms which have fought this permit and are now pursuing a civil rights complaint to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Civil Rights’ Office on EGLE's action.

"There are very real health effects from being surrounded daily by industrial pollution, even if the environmental standards for each individual facility are met. Cumulative pollution from multiple sources can translate to higher rates of asthma and other health problems in communities that often lack access to adequate medical care. Our state environmental agency needs to ensure that all Michigan residents are protected by our environmental laws.”

 

 

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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.

Sierra Club Commends Legislative Democrats Climate Resiliency Bill Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Contact: Tim Minotas, tim.minotas@sierraclub.org 

Sierra Club Commends Legislative Democrats Climate Resiliency Bill Package 

LANSING, MI - Today, the Sierra Club applauds the Michigan House and Senate Democrats climate resiliency bill package. Climate change directly intersects with many key issues challenging our state including infrastructure, public health, jobs, and protecting our water.

We are seeing flooded homes, businesses, freeways, farmlands, and billions of gallons of raw sewage polluting our waterways from overloaded water systems, all costing our state billions. What would be considered 100 and 500-year flood events, Michigan is now getting every couple of years, and our infrastructure and roads aren’t built to handle them. We need to start looking at alternative, more resilient, cost-effective, and efficient green infrastructure options. These bills introduced today will begin to enact systemic changes and make climate-resilient investments where we need them most.

Included in the climate resilience package are proposals for:

• A climate resiliency corps to employ Michiganders to work on resiliency projects with local governments, non-profits, universities, tribes, and businesses, with a goal of 40% of those projects being in environmental protection communities.

• A disaster relief and weatherization navigator program to help assist individuals in navigating the complicated web of assistance programs related to these specific areas

• A Weatherization and pre-weatherization jobs program to help low-income residents in Michigan improve energy efficiency and resiliency of their homes to combat the effects of extreme weather, repair homes that are in deferment so they can participate in weatherization assistance, all while creating good-paying jobs and apprenticeships to perform the upgrades.

• Expanding the percentage of how much Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) dollars can be spent on weatherization.

• A green infrastructure permit for MDOT highway projects, which would require them to consider forecasted climate conditions and green infrastructure alternatives in their projects.

• Requiring water utilities in the state to have backup power sources for their water pumps if the primary source fails.

• Adding environmental disasters and natural disasters to the local and state emergency alert system, to ensure our residents are prepared and aware of incoming severe weather, chemical spills, and industrial accidents.

• Local municipalities to develop their own stormwater utility system

In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:

“As we have experienced, extreme weather events will continue to bring flooding and other issues to Michigan, and to prepare for them we have to build resiliency within our infrastructure and communities, and ensure that our residents have the resources to recover from and manage these new realities. The bills introduced today, take a proactive approach to plant the seeds of an economy to sustain us over the long term -- one that will create thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs, prioritize vulnerable communities, and protect our water resources. To adapt to climate change and protect public health, we have to take action now. 

“This is a time to be decisive in saving lives, and bold in charting a path to a genuinely healthier and more equitable future for all Michigan residents. Sierra Club, our members, supporters, and environmental advocates across the state will use this solid foundation to continue to push for action across the board in Michigan so that we truly tackle this crisis at the speed and scale that justice and science demand.”

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About the Sierra Club: 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.

Sierra Club endorsed candidates make gains in local races

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Sierra Club endorsed candidates make gains in local races 

Media Contacts:   

Tim Minotas: 248-961-9610

Sierra Club endorsed candidates won big in last night’s elections across Michigan. The issues that drove voters to the polls in this off-year election included candidate commitments to renewable energy at the municipal level, safe affordable drinking water, environmentally sustainable development, and support for local green space programs. Sierra Club is proud to support candidates that championed these issues. 

The biggest win of the night came from Grand Haven in seats for the Grand Haven City Council and the Grand Haven Board of Light and Power by Sierra Club endorsed candidates, Andrea Hendrick, Micheal Westbrook, Kevin McLaughlin, and Karen Lowe.

These races are important in particular because community members have been pushing back against a polluting gas plant project. With these voices now on the City Council and the Board of Light and Power, the people of Grand Haven now have representation that will fight to protect their air and water.

The election results from last night show that candidate positions on environmental issues will also play a big role in the 2022 election. According to polling done earlier this year through GQR, 71% of registered voters in Michigan believe that climate change is a serious problem, and 67 percent of voters want to increase the state’s usage of renewable energy like wind and solar energy. Sierra Club channels significant grassroots support to translate these polling results into election results, and last night’s wins show that we are making gains going into 2022. 

“This is a crucial time in Michigan for setting a new, higher standard when it comes to environmental policy”, said Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Cities and local utilities across the country have been taking it upon themselves and leading the way to cut emissions, increase resiliency, and protect green spaces to ensure we are leaving a healthy environment for future generations. We look forward to working with all of yesterday’s winners in protecting the air, land, and water within their communities.”

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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.

Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Cesar E. Chavez  Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)

Sierra Club calls for EGLE reforms in support of Benton Harbor Community Water Council Petition to EPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, September 9, 2021

Contact: 

Christy McGillivray, 808-726-5325 

christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org

Sierra Club calls for EGLE reforms in support of Benton Harbor Community Water Council Petition to EPA 

Lansing, MI - A petition to the federal Environmental Protection Agency calling for emergency action on lead-contaminated drinking water in Benton Harbor highlights the need for immediate reforms at the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). 

“State regulators have been rubber stamping too much for too long,” said Rhonda Anderson with Sierra Club. “We need reform, and the cost for failing to do so is the impact on far too many whose health and lives have been compromised.”

Anderson continued, “EGLE staff who failed to protect the health of Benton Harbor residents from lead contamination for more than three years by failing to meet the requirements in Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule should be held accountable. There is a pattern and practice within our state environmental agency of failures, and those failures have gone on for far too long. It’s time for Gov. Whitmer to take personal responsibility for EGLE’s failed leadership and clean house.” 

Today’s petition to the EPA was filed by the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, in partnership with Natural Resources Defense Council, at the direction of the Benton Harbor Community Water Council. Allegations in the petition, which was endorsed by Sierra Club, focus on the ongoing public health crisis in Benton Harbor because of drinking water contaminated by lead. Problems identified in the petition, however, reflect a persistent culture of disregard and negligence at EGLE that disproportionately impacts low-income Black communities in Michigan. 

Since 1991, when former Governor Engler removed citizen oversight of the Department of Environmental Quality, (formerly DEQ, now EGLE), Sierra Club has vocally decried the lack of transparency, poor responsiveness to public concerns, and continued negligence that violates basic human rights from the state agency tasked with protecting public health by protecting air, land, and water. The rejected 2009 DEQ Environmental Justice plan, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission Report in the wake of the Flint water crisis, and the EPA petition submitted today, make it clear that demands for reform at EGLE have yet to be met. The consequence of failing to meet these demands are ongoing public health emergencies, particularly in communities of color. To that end, Sierra Club supports the petition to EPA submitted today, as well as the demand that EGLE fully implement and fund its commitment to environmental justice as spelled out in the creation of the office of Environmental Justice in 2019. EGLE must be held accountable to follow the law and protect public health. 

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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.

Sierra Club Ramps up Massive Mobilization to Protect Democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christy McGillivray

christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org 

808-726-5325 

 

 

Sierra Club Ramps up Massive Mobilization to Protect Democracy

 Lansing, MI (August 31, 2021) – A small fraction of Michiganders may be given the power to restrict ballot access to millions of Michiganders thanks to a Republican led anti-democracy petition drive launched today in Michigan. Sierra Club issued the following statement in response: 

 “We know an overwhelmingly bi-partisan majority of Michiganders support a thriving democracy. The Republican referendum launched today is intended to exploit the state constitution to allow a slim majority of voters to deprive millions of Michiganders the right to vote. After a safe, secure, and successful election in 2020, we should be celebrating the successful implementation of Prop 3 reforms, not depriving voters of access to the ballot,” said Christy McGillivray, the Political and Legislative Director for the Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club. ”The Republican response to losing in the 2020 election has been to try and make it harder to vote. That is not how democracy works. The Sierra Club’s 150,000 members and supporters are ready to fight back against this blatant attack on the freedom to vote and our democracy.” 

 “Voter suppression in Michigan is part of a nationwide push to hamstring our democracy,” said Courtney Hight, the Democracy Program Director for the Sierra Club. “The Sierra Club is mobilizing across the country to stop voter suppression efforts in state legislatures and to support the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act nationally. We need a healthy and equitable  democracy to tackle the climate crisis, address the critical issues of environmental justice, and the Sierra Club members are ready to fight for both.”

 

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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.

Governor Whitmer invests $150 million into Local Parks and Recreation

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Wednesday, July 7th

Contact: Tim Minotas, tim.minotas@sierraclub.org

Governor Whitmer invests $150 million into Local Parks and Recreation

LANSING, MI - In a historic announcement on Tuesday, Gov. Whitmer pledged a $150 million investment into Michigan’s state parks and recreation facilities. This funding comes in the form of federal relief dollars from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, and accompanies another $250 million that Governor Whitmer proposed to invest in Michigan’s parks and trails last month. 

The governor’s announcement marks an important investment into Michigan’s economy, natural resources, local communities, and environment. Tourism and outdoor recreation are vital to our state’s economy, supporting approximately 126,00 jobs and billions of dollars in state and local tax revenue. Our parks and recreation areas represent all things Pure Michigan, providing wonder and awe to Michigan residents and tourists alike. Without funding, these sites cannot be maintained and enjoyed properly. This funding will also finance land conservation, supporting the ecological benefits of our land and helping maintain healthy environments. Governor Whitmer’s proposal will help local communities to maintain and manage natural spaces and parks, as well as increase access to them so that everyone can enjoy the great outdoors. 

“It is great to see this type of funding into our state’s outdoor areas,” said Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “Michigan has so much natural beauty to share, but it is impossible to preserve and maintain these spaces without funding, especially when we are seeing record numbers of people visiting our parks. This funding means more people in our communities will be able to explore and enjoy our parks and position us to protect them for generations to come.”   

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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.

Thousands Fight Back Against Voter Suppression

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Christy McGillivray

christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org 

808-726-5325 

 

 

Thousands Fight Back Against Voter Suppression 

More than 1,500 Michigan Sierra Club Members call in support of free and fair elections 

 

Lansing, MI (June 30, 2021) – Sierra Club volunteers from across the country joined Michiganders to fight back against recent Republican-led voter suppression efforts. More than 100 volunteers made calls to inform constituents about this imminent threat to voting rights. In turn, over 1,500 constituents committed to calling their state legislators demanding opposition to the 39 bill package introduced in March designed to obstruct access to the ballot.

“After a safe, secure, and successful election in 2020, we should be celebrating the leadership of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and local clerks, not making it harder to vote in Michigan,” said Christy McGillivray, the Political and Legislative Director for the Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club. She continued, ”The Republican response to losing in the 2020 election has been to try and make it harder to vote. That is not how democracy works. In Michigan we value democracy, and over 1,500 constituents just demonstrated this by committing to call to stop voter suppression.” 

The bills drawing the most criticism in the package make it harder to register for an absentee ballot, restrict access to ballot drop boxes, prohibit the Secretary of State from making absentee ballot applications easily accessible online, ban local clerks from providing pre paid postage for absentee ballots, and bar clerks from counting absentee ballots in the weeks leading up to an election, among other things. 

“Voter suppression in Michigan is part of a nationwide push to hamstring our democracy,” said Courtney Hight, the Democracy Program Director for the Sierra Club. “The Sierra Club is mobilizing across the country to stop voter suppression efforts in state legislatures and to support the For the People Act nationally. We need a healthy democracy to tackle the climate crisis, and Sierra Club members are ready to fight for both.”

 

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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.

Sierra Club Applauds Bipartisan Community Solar Legislation

 Sierra Club Applauds Bipartisan Community Solar Legislation

 

Lansing, MI - Today, in bipartisan fashion, Reps. Rachel Hood (D) and Michele Hoitenga (R) introduced legislation (House Bills 4715-4716) to remove restrictions on community solar projects in Michigan, allowing communities, non-profits, religious institutions, and everyone from all income levels to participate in the clean energy revolution while lowering their utility bills.

 

 

In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:

 

“Community solar programs address the many barriers that prevent households from adopting rooftop solar, such as people who can’t afford the up-front costs, who are renting, have shaded rooftops, or don’t qualify for standard financing solutions.

 

These bills will allow all customers to go solar and save money by joining a shared solar installation located somewhere else in their community and receive a credit on their utility bill for their portion of the power produced. This is a crucial tool for mitigating expensive electricity rates and household energy burden - which is especially high in Michigan for both rural and low income communities. Overall, these bills will help improve our economic stability, provide good-paying jobs, enhance the use of cleaner sources of energy, and create a healthier Michigan.” 

 

 

 

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Voter Suppression: Senate Elections Committee busy rushing laws to Suppress the vote in Michigan

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Contact: 

Christy McGillivray, christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org

Tim Minotas, tim.minotas@sierraclub.org 

Voter Suppression: Senate Elections Committee busy rushing laws to Suppress the vote in Michigan

Lansing, MI - Today, the Michigan Senate Elections Committee, took up a handful of bills that are a part of a larger package of anti-voter legislation aimed at making it more difficult for Michiganders to vote. The justification for these bills are based on widespread lies and disinformation about the 2020 election. Senate Bill 287, one of the most concerning bills taken up in committee today, would bar local clerks from offering prepaid postage on absentee ballot envelopes, something many clerks across Michigan did to make it easier to vote.

In response, Christy McGillivray the Legislative and Political Director of Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:

“These bills should be seen for what they are– blatant voter suppression tactics aimed at slashing opportunities for all voters to participate in absentee voting. After the successful administration of our 2020 elections, in which a record number of Michiganders safely and securely cast absentee ballots, Senate Republicans are trying to make it harder for Michiganders to vote. We should be building on the successes of the 2020 election and expanding access to the ballot instead of winding back the clock and making it harder to vote.” 

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Press Statement: Sierra Club MI Applauds Michael Regan’s Historic Confirmation

 Press Statement: Sierra Club MI Applauds Michael Regan’s Historic Confirmation

Lansing, MI-- The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter celebrates the confirmation of Michael Regan as the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator. “After four years of climate-deniers leading the country’s top environmental agency, it is a breath of fresh air to have someone in place who will prioritize protecting our land, air, and water.” said Sarah Tresedder, Climate Action Organizer at the MI Chapter. “Regan is a true environmental champion, who has spent his entire career fighting for vulnerable communities and promoting environmental justice.”

Before his history-making nomination to head the EPA, Regan led the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, where he fought against pipeline expansions, emphasized the need to invest in clean energy, and worked to clean up coal ash pits in the state. His entire career has centered on protecting those most vulnerable and least powerful. He has championed underrepresented communities and is committed to racial and environmental justice-- making him the perfect leader during this crucial time for climate action.

“Michael Regan is the most qualified candidate to lead the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency,”  said Tim Minotas, Political and Legislative Coordinator for the Chapter. “With him leading the way, we are hopeful that our state and country can build back better toward a more sustainable future for all.” 

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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.

Environmental Groups Applaud Bills To Update Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Tim Minotas

tim.minotas@sierraclub.org 

248-961-9610

Sean McBrearty

smcbrearty@cleanwater.org

616-516-7758

Environmental Groups Applaud Bills To Update Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law

Lansing, MI -- Michigan’s two largest grassroots environmental advocacy organizations, Clean Water Action and Sierra Club, applaud Sen. Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) and Rep. Christine Morse (D-Portage) for introducing bills to update and increase our state’s recycling and conservation priorities by expanding Michigan’s bottle deposit law to include other beverage containers like tea, water, sports drinks, and hard cider. The bills would also allow for universal redemption at large stores. Michigan’s bottle law has not been updated in over four decades and is one of the only states that does not allow universal redemption currently. 

Further provisions in the bills would create a bottle handling fund to reimburse distributors and dealers on a per-bottle-basis; make funding available for audits and fraud enforcement, and provide $25 million each year to further address Michigan’s thousands of orphaned toxic contamination sites that are polluting our land and water.

In response to the bill introduction, Sierra Club and Clean Water Action released the following statements:

“Michigan’s 10 cent bottle deposit law has been one of our most successful environmental policies when it comes to reducing litter and promoting the reuse of resources. However, we’ve failed to update our bottle deposit law to reflect the consumer trends we see today as most plastic beverages being consumed now are noncarbonated single-use plastic beverages which we can’t return for a deposit. These bills reflect those trends which will further reduce Michigan’s plastic pollution problem and help keep our state beautiful and healthy by providing much need funding to address legacy contamination throughout our state.” - Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter

“Michigan’s bottle deposit law has been tremendously successful. Updating it to include beverages that are consumed in far greater amounts today than they were 40 years ago is a common sense step that will increase recycling and further protect our Great Lakes from plastic pollution. Michigan’s bottle bill has retained wide public support, proving that this is just as much a non-partisan issue as it was when Michigan voters established the bottle deposit law over 40 years ago. We thank Senator McCann and Representative Morse for leading the way on this critical issue, and we call on all Michigan lawmakers to support these bills.” - Mary Brady-Enerson, Michigan Director, Clean Water Action

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Whitmer Signals Commitment to Building Michigan Back Better with Budget

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Tim Minotas

(248) 961-9610

tim.minotas@sierraclub.org

Whitmer Signals Commitment to Building Michigan Back Better with Budget

Lansing, MI - The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter today praised Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2022-2023  budget proposal,  which prioritizes funding for clean water, the health of our Great Lakes and communities, and moving Michigan forward on climate. With over $150 million from the General Fund to address climate change and Michigan’s water issues, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signaled to all Michigan residents that she is putting their health, and the health of our environment, first, while demonstrating the urgency of tackling these issues.

“Governor Whitmers budget is a reflection of the needs and priorities of the people of Michigan that will grow our economy and prepare our state for the future. Her commitment to investing in cleaning up legacy contamination, addressing the climate crisis, and upgrading our water infrastructure will not only help clean up our environment and protect public health, it will also spur job creation in Michigan,” said Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. “We at the Sierra Club urge the State Legislature to set aside partisan politics and join Governor Whitmer in putting the people of Michigan first and building our state back better by supporting her budget.”

Among her budget priorities, Governor Whitmer has called for over $290 million for water infrastructure. The budget recommendations also prioritizes the health our citizens and environment by allocating $5 million for the Health and Safety Fund to help low income residents with weatherization upgrades, $55 million for the Filter First Program, which will protect Michigan school children from lead exposure via school drinking water, another $10 million to fund the Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund, which will help low-to-moderate income Michigan homeowners and landlords secure financing to reduce or eliminate residential lead hazards, and $20 million for environmental contamination response.

Furthermore, addressing climate change and investments in our workers is a major priority for this administration, as the Executive Budget calls for $25 million in investment for electric vehicle infrastructure and workers to ensure they are prepared for the jobs needed as the auto sector transitions to a clean future, $40 million for local high water and climate resilience projects, and $10 million for clean energy investments.

The Sierra Club is encouraged by this budget. Now is the time to create policies that plant the seeds of economy to sustain us over the long term -- one that will create tens of thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs with a focus on disadvantaged communities. This is a time to be decisive in saving lives, and bold in charting a path to a genuinely healthier and more equitable future for all Michigan residents. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature in achieving this.

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Sierra Club Applauds Efforts to Protect Great Lakes and Michigan Waterways from Dangerous Dock Collapses

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Justin Onwenu 

justin.onwenu@sierraclub.org 

313-405-5900

Christy McGillivray

Christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org 

808-726-5325‬

Sierra Club Applauds Efforts to Protect Great Lakes and Michigan Waterways from Dangerous Dock Collapses  

Lansing, MI -- In November 2019, a heavily contaminated piece of land operated by Detroit Bulk Storage, collapsed into the Detroit River. The incident sparked outrage and concern among Metro Detroit residents and Canadians who depend on the Detroit River as a vital drinking water source. Today, Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), and Sen. Erika Geiss (D-Taylor) re-introduced legislation to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The Sierra Club applauds their leadership and urges Michigan legislators to support these crucial efforts.

Senate Bill 122 would ensure that statewide risk assessments are conducted and facilitate greater public access to data regarding contaminated properties along major waterways. “Seeing headlines about uranium in the Detroit River does not inspire confidence, says Nicholas Leonard, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center in Detroit, “We hope that this legislation will help local and state authorities take proactive steps to protect our waterways and we also hope it will give the public greater confidence and access to crucial information about contamination along our waterways.” 

Senate Bill 123 would require inspections of commercial and industrial docks. “Our Great Lakes and Michigan waterways are special. We depend on them for fishing, tourism, recreation and so much more,” says Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter “As a state, we need to take extra precautions to ensure that facilities operating along our waterways do not pose a risk to our waterways.”

One week after contaminated land collapsed into the Detroit River in November 2019, the Windsor Star, a Canadian newspaper, was the first to notify Michiganders of the incident. Senate Bill 124 would strengthen emergency notification procedures by requiring notification should a similar spill occur. “The Detroit River incident revealed a clear breakdown in our emergency notification procedures,'' says Justin Onwenu, a Detroit based Environmental Justice Organizer for the Sierra Club. “Michigan authorities and the public have a right to know when our Great Lakes and drinking water sources are threatened.”

Sierra Club Slams EGLE decision to Fast Track Dangerous Oil Tunnel

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Christy McGillivray

christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org

808-726-5325

Sierra Club Slams EGLE decision to Fast Track Dangerous Oil Tunnel  

Lansing, MI--Today, the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) issued permits to Enbridge for their dangerous and poorly planned oil tunnel, siding with a multinational oil company that is responsible for the largest inland oil spill in our country’s history. 

“EGLE has abdicated its duty to protect our Great Lakes and sided with a Canadian oil company over the safety of the Great Lakes. Enbridge has an egregious safety record including responsibility for the 2010 oil spill on the Kalamazoo River and decades of violations that led Governor Whitmer to order a shut down of Line 5. Instead of supporting our Governor and Attorney General Nessel’s work to shut down line 5 safely, EGLE has allowed Enbridge to fast track these poorly planned and dangerous oil tunnel permits,” said Christy McGillivray, the Political and Legislative Director for the Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club. 

 The permits granted today are only part of the process that Enbridge needs to complete before construction of its disastrous oil tunnel can begin. Sierra Club will work closely with allies, including Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel, to make sure that Line 5 is permanently shut down and we invest in clean renewable energy instead of poorly planned and outdated fossil fuel infrastructure.

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Sierra Club Response to Governor Whitmer's State of the State Address

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tim Minotas

tim.minotas@sierraclub.org

(248) 961-9610

Sierra Club on State of the State: Governor Whitmer all in on Building Michigan Back Better through clean energy and upgrading Michigan’s Water Infrastructure

Lansing, MI -- Today, Governor Gretchen delivered her third State of the State address, highlighting past accomplishments and announcing new initiatives to protect Michiganders and businesses from the public health and financial burdens of COVID-19. 

As part of her Michigan Back to Work plan, Governor Whitmer made upgrading our water infrastructure and clean energy jobs a focal point, calling on the Legislature to pass the MI Clean Water plan--a $500 million comprehensive water investment in Michigan's water infrastructure. Governor Whitmer’s initiatives will create over 7,500 jobs and clean up Michigan’s drinking water, as well as a jobs plan which will prioritize the skills needed for entry into registered apprenticeships in the clean energy sector and clean transportation sector to help drive Michigan’s energy transition.

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

“With our state’s economy reeling from the impacts of COVID-19, the MI Reconnect Program, Futures for Frontliners, and the Michigan Back to Work plan are crucial steps that will invest, train, and prepare our citizens, especially in disadvantaged communities for the clean energy and mobility jobs of the future. These steps will ensure Michigan continues its leadership in the automotive industry and pave the way into a clean energy and transportation future that is good for our climate, health, wallets, and workers. We are happy to hear tonight that Governor Whitmer shares this vision and understanding and we look forward to working with her and the State Legislature to jumpstarting these sectors and call on the Legislature to pass the Good Jobs For Michigan legislation, which will provide sustainable economic recovery and growth for the long term.” - Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter 

“Investing in drinking and waste water infrastructure is exactly the kind of win-win policy that we need right now. Governor Whitmer’s prioritization of upgrading our drinking and waste water infrastructure will create thousands of jobs, improve water quality, and help protect public health by ensuring that more Michiganders have access to safe drinking water. Governor Whitmer needs strong partners in the State Legislature to match the scale of the solution to the scale of the problem. We look forward to working with the State Legislature in the coming session to get closer to reaching the 1 billion dollars a year that we need to properly invest in our drinking and wastewater systems as a state.” - Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter 

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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.

Sierra Club Condemns Senate Leaders for Playing Politics with Public Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

CONTACT:

Christy McGillivray

christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org

808-726-5325

Sierra Club Condemns Senate Leaders for Playing Politics with Public Health 

Lansing, MI -- Sierra Club strongly condemns the Senate Republicans’ stunt to hold up Governor Whitmer’s appointments to the Natural Resources Commission and the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission in an effort to force the Governor’s hand in relaxing COVID-19 protections. 

“It is unconscionable that Senate Republicans continue to ignore the advice of medical professionals and epidemiologists in the middle of a global pandemic. Petty and dangerous stunts like this undermine Michiganders’ confidence in public health guidelines and they put more lives at risk,” said Christy McGillivray, the Political and Legislative Director for the Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club. 

The work of the Natural Resources Commission and the Agriculture and Rural Development Commission are not directly related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the work of these bodies is important to the environmental and economic health of our state. By standing in the way of the work of these commissions Senate Republicans are putting extreme partisanship ahead of a functioning state government. These antics place more stress on our fragile democracy in the wake of the mendacious and violent attacks that followed the Trump administration’s attempt to overturn a free and fair election.

It is time for all Michiganders to put extreme partisanship aside and work together for our shared goals of pandemic recovery and an economic recovery. Sierra Club calls on Senate Republicans to work with the Whitmer administration and public health experts to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control, and to stop playing politics with basic public health protections. 

 

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