FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Minotas
(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
##
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.
