tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85877790782905641682024-03-14T04:23:06.321-04:00Sierra Club - Michigan Chapter News ReleasesSierra Club • Michigan Chapterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03747912627442547437noreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-545176080602731432022-04-21T17:09:00.003-04:002022-04-28T08:55:33.932-04:00Groups: New plan prioritizes communities impacted most by climate change, outlines actions to improve public health<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </b>Thursday, April 21, 2022 <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>CONTACT: </b>Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy
Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Groups: New plan prioritizes communities impacted most by
climate change, outlines actions to improve public health</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Groups respond to final MI Healthy Climate plan and what
it means for Michigan</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
released the <a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=Pqz1rcQ4r5IIZjpb4OpWMeKbtITRydW93-2BATr16MH8-2B9pk3VS4EvZvAOMJqsxAJHCjFzY6JaKy2o9B055iuaDKXEz5TKs3YV-2BKRqJYRAZDwnnqYrY-2Baun6eQoOCcz3AXyiD4_m1-2B5T0y9KKTFwH14HcV3J53-2B-2Fq-2F0rCL7at5ciYmFvloR-2F6bB62HgSdbyNwN91lMdSt5aWPOGc5YBZNQZIlikusmtMw8oyR2wSaDKqXmZ4MnSpdAZWM53AH-2BRIbooANl-2FhhVLIYKQys0BebqenfrmfnrvPxvS9QDpizw9tQtOk8sfNkxyxnsoA4inpPePSRRapWldkWkY0vLFxmmSPOZdPOgyKH-2B95264I7-2BAhegQSSyQw7oxG2-2BRarUtU-2BGW7SKsam0nVcOOB-2BOWy-2FBXkkXXtS6xNzBO7LEBshhCqqGwHxY-2B9VokNoVNL9bCO8iUWyoKzTGB1x0mnsJWaIDnwhLoKKLGQft5uqOBDFC4nbpvnmwvX6WclHG6aqkfRzpkEhe5CutExkP387cMnTF2NSp9tw-3D-3D">MI
Healthy Climate plan</a> that outlines policies to significantly reduce
dangerous pollution in our air and water, prioritize communities that have
shouldered the burden of pollution for far too long, and improve public health
as it guides Michigan to achieve our state and international climate goals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b>The following are statements from organizations
upon release of the MI Healthy Climate Plan:</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We appreciate the leadership of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to
set Michigan on a strong path toward addressing the impacts of climate change
and protecting future generations of Michiganders,” said <b>Conan Smith</b>,
President & CEO of the <b>Michigan Environmental Council</b>. “The MI
Healthy Climate plan packs a punch. Whether it’s expanding our state’s use of
wind and solar, repairing and improving Michigan’s building stock to make homes
more energy efficient or aligning our state with the federal government’s
Justice40 funding guidelines, the hours of work that have gone into creating
this plan are worth it because Michigan is truly poised to make huge strides in
tackling the climate crisis.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“We know the status quo in Michigan has led to higher rates
of asthma and respiratory disease than other parts of the nation, and our
frontline low-income and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
communities have shouldered the burden of dirty air and water for far too
long,” said <b>Kathleen Slonager</b>, RN, AE-C, CCH, Director <b>Asthma &
Allergy Foundation of America - Michigan Chapter</b>. “This MI Healthy Climate
plan is a plan for action. Action to finally clean up our act and put Michigan
on a clean energy and clean vehicle pathway. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sounded
the call and now we must work together with the Legislature and Michigan Public
Service Commission to cut 28% of state emissions by 2025 and achieve
economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The MI Healthy Climate Plan creates a roadmap for our state
to move off fossil fuels with the urgency that science and justice demands,”
said <b>Kate Madigan</b>, director of the <b>Michigan Climate Action Network</b>.
“For communities across Michigan that have been going it alone on their
sustainability goals and responding to increasing flooding and other climate
impacts for years, they finally have a partner in Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She is
willing to do what it takes to reduce dangerous pollution coming from tailpipes
and power plants to protect our Great Lakes, create safer communities and
improve the health of all Michiganders.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">“For environmental organizations like Sierra Club that have
been doing this work for a long time, we are so thankful to have the MI Healthy
Climate plan,” said <b>Tim Minotas</b>, legislative and political
coordinator for <b>Sierra Club Michigan</b>. “So much effort has gone into
laying out these bold goals for our great state and more work remains in
implementing policies necessary to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. We are
excited for this moment and what the future holds for Michigan.”<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-83062779251307459832022-04-21T13:12:00.004-04:002022-04-21T13:12:59.053-04:00Budget put forward by Senate Republicans fails to prioritize environmental protection and public health<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 4/21/2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fd6ba5b6-7fff-566e-e941-4888f115206a"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sarah Tresedder, sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org, 906-869-4167</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Budget put forward by Senate Republicans fails to prioritize environmental protection and public health</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LANSING, MI </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Earlier this week, Senate Republicans released a state budget that would slash a record amount of funding for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Under their budget proposals (SB 839-840), we would see hundreds of cuts in full time employees and hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts to EGLE and the DNR.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What does this mean? State Parks that have been seeing a record number of visitors could close, the over 24,000 contaminated toxic sites across Michigan would not be cleaned up, our state’s ability to update our water infrastructure hindered, and our transition to a clean energy and transportation system stifled. Furthermore, Michigan’s environmental agencies that are already severely underfunded will not be able to properly monitor, investigate, enforce laws, or run the necessary programs and services that so many Michiganders expect from our government in order to protect Michigan’s natural resources and move our state forward.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a major budget surplus and dollars coming in from the federal government, the state should not be making these kinds of dangerous budget cuts. Michigan has a monumental opportunity to develop a sustainable state economy -- one that will create tens of thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs, which Governor Whitmer’s budget prioritizes. This is the 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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Michigan’s public lands, natural resources, and infrastructure are essential to the economic and ecological sustainability of our state and the recreational opportunities for our residents. Dangerous budget cuts like these from the legislative majority, undermine the important work of these agencies to protect the environmental and economic health of our state and only benefit corporate polluters. Michiganders want more protection for our Great Lakes, not less. It is very disappointing to see Senate Republicans not share this view and we hope as the budget process continues, we see an EGLE and DNR budget that more reflects the values of Michiganders.”</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>EPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628516286925759314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-18833227429829002502022-03-25T15:15:00.004-04:002022-03-25T15:15:17.363-04:00Michigan’s Infrastructure Deal: A Big First Step to a Sustainable Funding Future<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b> Friday, March 25, 2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f2e4d212-7fff-79b5-f3e3-2d9b4c8dd32f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>CONTACT:</b> Sarah Tresedder, </span><a href="mailto:sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, 906-869-4167</span></p><br /><h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Michigan’s Infrastructure Deal: A Big First Step to a Sustainable Funding Future</span></span></h2><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - On Thursday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer was able to strike a deal with the Michigan legislature to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill totaling $4.7 billion to upgrade Michigan’s failing infrastructure. The deal includes $1.7 billion for drinking water and wastewater system improvements, $450 million for state and local parks, over $90 million for electric vehicles and public transit, and $50 million for energy efficiency and health improvements.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Michigan’s most </span><a href="https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/michigan/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">recent infrastructure report card</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ACSE), the state received a D grade for drinking water infrastructure, a C- for public transportation, and a C- for energy infrastructure. Given the continuing environmental and public health disasters impacting the state, this funding is coming at a critical time for Michigan’s energy and water infrastructure.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A significant amount of the funds that are included in the budget came from the bipartisan infrastructure deal that passed Congress and was signed by President Biden in November of last year. In response to the state deal passing, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Sierra Club Michigan’s Political and Legislative Coordinator</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, had the following to say:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The bipartisan infrastructure bill passed today by the Michigan legislature is a great down payment for the repairs and upgrades that we must make across our state to deal with climate and other public health impacts. Thanks to leadership from President Biden and Congress, we have unprecedented amounts of money coming to Michigan and Governor Whitmer and the State Legislature deserve credit for working quickly to get money where it needs to go. However, this can't be a one-time deal. We need this level of commitment to ongoing infrastructure upgrades going forward, not short-sighted tax cuts."</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>EPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628516286925759314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-21288803996530783912022-03-24T12:47:00.004-04:002022-03-24T12:47:53.553-04:00Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Hires New Development Director and First Communications Coordinator<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 03-24-2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-554fb681-7fff-8833-d37b-14d679e839b8"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sarah Tresedder, </span><a href="mailto:sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org</span></a></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Hires New Development Director and First Communications Coordinator</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter is pleased to announce that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Tresedder and Stephanie Szymas have been hired as the new Communications Coordinator and Development Director, respectively.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tresedder will oversee both traditional and digital media work, handling marketing, communications, and press relations for the 55-year-old organization. As Development Director, Szymas will be responsible for managing the Chapter’s fundraising program including donor relations and stewardship, major gift donor identification and solicitation, appeal and grant writing and special events.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tresedder has worked in various capacities with the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter since 2016, starting as an intern with the political program while earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and a minor in environmental studies from Michigan State University. Her most recent role at the Chapter has been as an organizer on climate and energy issues in West Michigan and at the federal level, during which time she completed studies for two Master degrees in Public Policy and Environmental Health.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before joining the Sierra Club, Szymas worked as a finance director for political campaigns and has managed donor relations and fundraising for several organizations on the west side of the state. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in fundraising that will help the Chapter achieve its goals to protect Michigan’s environment and communities.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gail Philbin, Michigan Chapter Executive Director</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, said the following related to the new hires:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Sarah has a strong background in science as well as strong communications skills, which will make her a valued resource for the media as well as the Chapter. It’s not often you find this combination, and we’re looking forward to the unique contribution she will make to the fight to elevate important environmental issues and protect the Great Lakes State.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> "Stephanie brings a wide range of experience in non-profit and political fundraising to her new role that will serve her well in her position as development director with the Michigan Chapter. We're excited to have her join the team."</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both new employees are excited to begin these roles and advance the work of the Sierra Club to explore, enjoy, and protect the state, country, and planet.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I am grateful for the opportunity to continue advancing the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy, and protect this state,” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tresedder</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says. “I hope to be a useful resource for the public, other organizations, and the media and look forward to helping achieve the Michigan Chapter ambitious goals to make this state a leader in clean energy, environmental justice, and climate action.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I am thankful and excited to serve as The Sierra Club's Michigan Chapter Development Director.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Szymas</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> says. “I look forward to combining my passion for environmental advocacy with my experience in political and non-profit fundraising to further strengthen The Chapter and continue to protect this great state and our communities." </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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</span></p><br /></span>EPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628516286925759314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-10127476226023674372022-03-15T10:07:00.002-04:002022-03-15T10:07:26.913-04:00Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d1080384-7fff-f930-25ce-9483fb97f3c6"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sean McBrearty, Clean Water Action, 616-516-7758</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christy McGillivray, Sierra Club, 808-726-5325</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LANSING</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Today, Clean Water Action and Sierra Club Michigan Chapter announced their endorsement of Jocelyn Benson for Secretary of State.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Jocelyn Benson was elected in 2018, when Michigan voters also overwhelmingly supported fortifying ballot access and election security to ensure that every Michigan voter has the opportunity to participate in free and fair elections,” said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Political and Legislative Director for Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under Benson’s leadership, these reforms have been quickly and efficiently implemented and more Michigan voters have had a chance to make their voices heard as a result.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to the election reforms in Proposal 2 of 2018, Benson was also tasked with implementing Michigan’s first ever non-partisan redistricting commission. The Michigan Independent Redistricting Commission has now successfully drawn non-partisan maps which will further ensure that Michigan voters can make their voices heard and hold elected officials accountable. The true test of Benson’s ability to implement these reforms and successfully administer elections came in 2020, when despite the enormous challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and various attempts to thwart the will of the people by restricting ballot access, Benson administered a free and fair election.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Without a healthy democracy, we are not able to protect our water and respond to the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Protecting our democracy is an integral part of protecting our environment and Jocelyn Benson has been and will continue to be the champion we need,” said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary Brady-Enerson, Michigan Director of Clean Water Action</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “We are proud to endorse her campaign and look forward to continuing to work with her in her second term.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#### </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Clean Water Action has over 135,000 members across the state. Through direct advocacy and education we organize Michigan residents to protect the Great Lakes and our water resources. Learn more at</span><a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/mi" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.cleanwateraction.org/mi</span></a></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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 </span><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.sierraclub.org</span></a></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-66854784264786765542022-03-09T14:35:00.004-05:002022-03-09T14:35:28.522-05:00Committing to Renewable Energy for Michigan is the Real Solution to Gas Prices<div><span id="docs-internal-guid-5ddea9a3-7fff-d6f8-2a68-56a8a8374c03" style="font-family: helvetica;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2022</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sarah Tresedder, </span><a href="mailto:sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sarah.tresedder@sierraclub.org</span></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Committing to Renewable Energy for Michigan is the Real Solution to Gas Prices</span></p></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-5a94e0f6-7fff-c49a-c91c-5249e2e4bd53"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Sierra Club Michigan condemns short-sighted Republican budget cuts that will keep Michigan reliant on the volatile fossil fuel market. Today, Republican Lawmakers in the House voted on a short-sighted bill that would repeal the state’s gas tax which would eliminate over $700 million annually from the state budget. This plan comes after the Michigan GOP already sent a tax cut plan totalling over $2.5 billion to the Governor’s desk last week. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan is the direction we need to move in. The Governor’s plan moves Michigan away from fossil fuels towards a clean, renewable energy future. Eliminating the state’s gas tax will not solve the national security risk that comes with a continued dependence on foreign fossil fuels from warmongering dictators like Vladimar Putin. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We must secure real energy independence by speeding up the production of cheaper, homegrown, renewable energy – like wind and solar, and electrified transportation – here in Michigan so we aren’t as impacted by foreign supply chain disruptions or conflicts overseas. That’s how we lower costs for families, provide stability to Michiganders and deliver energy security.” said </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Sierra Club Michigan’s Legislative and Political Coordinator, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“However, if we move forward with this proposal this will only hinder our ability to make such investments and will only lock us into more dependence on fossil fuels.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Repealing the state gas tax does not protect Michigan in the short or long term from an unstable global fossil fuel economy.” said </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Michigan needs an economy that can sustain itself without foreign fossil fuels or tax cuts for the wealthy and big oil, who are perpetuating and exploiting this crisis in Ukraine to raise prices for record profits”</span></p><div><br /></div></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">###</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">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
</span></i></div>EPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628516286925759314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-48509334464378576782022-03-01T09:52:00.000-05:002022-03-01T09:52:04.081-05:00Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Gretchen Whitmer for Governor<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-51a6590f-7fff-95db-ad01-a3b82b625649"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sean McBrearty, Clean Water Action, 616-516-7758</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christy McGillivray, Sierra Club, 808-726-5325</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Gretchen Whitmer for Governor</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LANSING</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Today, Clean Water Action and Sierra Club Michigan Chapter announced their endorsement of Gretchen Whitmer for Governor of Michigan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Gretchen Whitmer puts protecting the Great Lakes first," said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary Brady-Enerson, Clean Water Action Michigan Director</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. "Governor Whitmer showed tremendous courage when she ordered the shut down of the dangerous Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac. She took on the fossil fuel industry to protect one-fifth of the world’s fresh water, and that's the brave leadership we need. She stands up to polluters and prioritizes our water and public health. We need 4 more years of her leadership.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Governor Whitmer used her first term to establish a series of firsts for environmental protection in Michigan. She created the first positions of Clean Water and Environmental Justice public advocate within the State Government. At her direction, Michigan entered into the US Climate Alliance, established the first ever advisory council on Environmental Justice, and she set up the first Climate Office within a state agency. When COVID-19 hit, Governor Whitmer put a stop to water and utility shut offs statewide, and her ongoing commitment to utility affordability created a direct energy assistance program. Under her leadership stakeholders came together to draft the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which maps out how Michigan should quickly transition to a renewable energy economy and support communities and jobs during the transition. Notably, Governor Whitmer also vetoed anti-democracy bills intended to limit access to the polls for Michiganders after the safe and secure 2020 election. Governor Whitmer knows that we can’t have a healthy environment without a healthy democracy. Her commitment to protecting voting rights is a commitment to protecting the environment. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “With Governor Whitmer at the helm, Michigan is prioritizing long overdue upgrades to our drinking and wastewater infrastructure. However, the job is not done. Years of neglect require years of investment to fix the problem, and we need Governor Whitmer fighting for our Great Lakes for another four years,” said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Political and Legislative Director</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Michigan Chapter</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “We are proud to endorse her campaign and look forward to continuing to work with her in her second term.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#### </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Clean Water Action has over 135,000 members across the state. Through direct advocacy and education we organize Michigan residents to protect the Great Lakes and our water resources. Learn more at</span><a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/mi" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.cleanwateraction.org/mi</span></a></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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 </span><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.sierraclub.org</span></a></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-65733935411525933932022-02-22T11:23:00.002-05:002022-02-22T11:23:23.029-05:00Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Dana Nessel for Attorney General of Michigan<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 22, 2022</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-df31549d-7fff-f72e-e737-659c6f7bbb36"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT: Sean McBrearty, Clean Water Action, 616-516-7758</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Christy McGillivray, Sierra Club, 808-726-5325</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leading Environmental Organizations Endorse Dana Nessel for Attorney General of Michigan</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LANSING</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Today, Clean Water Action and Sierra Club Michigan Chapter announced their endorsement of Dana Nessel for Attorney General of Michigan.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“For the past four years, Attorney General Nessel has been a consistent and tenacious champion fighting to protect our environment and hold polluters accountable," said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary Brady-Enerson, Clean Water Action Michigan Director</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “From Enbridge Energy to 3M and Wolverine Worldwide, she has taken on some of the biggest polluters and most powerful industries in the world and has won important victories on behalf of Michigan residents and our Great Lakes.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In her first term, Attorney General Nessel broke from the actions of most of her predecessors by intervening on behalf of ratepayers in multiple Michigan Public Service Commission cases. Her actions helped save Michigan families and other ratepayers over $200 million. She has also participated in multiple state and federal actions to protect our water resources and hold corporate polluters accountable. Notably, AG Nessel’s advocacy resulted in a $245 million settlement with NCR Corp. to cleanup their superfund site on the Kalamazoo River, and a $69.5 million settlement with Wolverine Worldwide to provide drinking water to families facing PFAS contamination in Kent County. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “From day one we have been able to count on Attorney General Nessel to fight for our environment and public health. She takes on tough and important cases, like the fight to shut down Line 5 - issues which less visionary elected officials would refuse to touch. We trust that she will continue to be a fighter for Michigan residents and the Great Lakes,” said </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Political and Legislative Director</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Michigan Chapter</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “We are proud to endorse her campaign and look forward to continuing to work with her in her second term.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">#### </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Clean Water Action has over 135,000 members across the state. Through direct advocacy and education we organize Michigan residents to protect the Great Lakes and our water resources. Learn more at</span><a href="http://www.cleanwateraction.org/mi" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.cleanwateraction.org/mi</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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 </span><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.sierraclub.org</span></a></p><div><br /></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-29233598447511322872022-02-10T12:21:00.005-05:002022-02-10T12:22:39.135-05:00Whitmer Commits to Michigan’s Future <p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f3a675ec-7fff-2324-61a1-5f5978379bb0"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(248) 961-9610</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whitmer Commits to Michigan’s Future </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI - The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter today praised Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 2023 budget proposal, which prioritizes funding for clean water, the health of our Great Lakes and communities, and moving Michigan forward on climate. Governor Whitmer is putting our health and the urgency of tackling climate change first with over $4 billion requested for water, electric vehicles, energy, just transition, jobs, public lands, and contaminated site cleanup.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Governor Whitmer’s budget reflects the needs and priorities of the people of Michigan Her commitment to investing in Michigan’s electric vehicle and clean transportation future, cleaning up legacy contamination, addressing the climate crisis, upgrading our water infrastructure, and protecting our children from lead and other toxic chemicals will help clean up our environment and protect public health, and will also spur job creation in Michigan,” said </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Sierra Club urges the State Legislature to join Governor Whitmer in putting the people of Michigan first and building our state back better by supporting her budget.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now is the time to make even more ambitious investments with a budget surplus, and more federal money coming to the state to advance clean energy jobs, resiliency, and a sustainable economy that benefits all Michiganders by creating jobs, as well as securing workers rights and livelihoods that are impacted by a transition to clean energy. This is the time to be 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.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the Sierra Club: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.8 million members and supporters, 150,000 of which are 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 </span><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-35924220599165851842022-01-26T20:14:00.003-05:002022-01-26T20:14:23.245-05:00Sierra Club on Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-27751ed5-7fff-4b48-3182-7018a77d4294"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact: Tim Minotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:tim.minotas@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(248) 961-9610</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club on Governor Whitmer’s State of the State Address</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response to the governor’s speech, Sierra Club released the following statements:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"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." - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"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." - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-30708120834208441592022-01-10T10:33:00.004-05:002022-01-10T10:33:44.129-05:00Brewery Founder Larry Bell is Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Environmentalist of the Year<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday, January 10, 2022</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More information: Gail Philbin 616-805-3063/<a href="mailto:gail.philbin@sierraclub.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">gail.philbin@<wbr></wbr>sierraclub.org</a></span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brewery Founder Larry Bell is Sierra Club </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Michigan Chapter Environmentalist of the Year</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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 </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gail Philbin,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Michigan Chapter state director</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. “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.” </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.’” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bell, who sold his iconic brewery in 2021, said he plans to increase his environmental work. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I can be stronger now in my sentiments and work harder for the causes I care about,” said Bell.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 14pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Other Sierra Club awards went to: </span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lifetime Excellence Award: Helen LeBlanc</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marlene Fluharty Award: Lee Burton</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sylvania Award: Androni Henry</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Pine Award: The Grand Haven Energy Organization and Urban Core Collective </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trillium Award: Spartan Sierra Club</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Theodore Roosevelt Political Leadership Award: Southeast Michigan Group Political Committee</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Digital Excellence Award: Julie Geisinger</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Service Awards: Brad Kent, Jane O’Neil, Denise Trabbic-Pointer, Lori Dostal and Vicki Olsen</span></p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">More information on the Sierra Club awards and to register for the Feb. 5 awards event go to:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/chapter-awards&source=gmail&ust=1641913681061000&usg=AOvVaw0_KxR9qVKbu7POWUwW9gaF" href="https://www.sierraclub.org/michigan/chapter-awards" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.sierraclub.org/<wbr></wbr>michigan/chapter-awards</span></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-68113109057420135662022-01-06T10:06:00.004-05:002022-01-06T10:46:26.929-05:00SIERRA CLUB GETS A HEAD START ON 2022 ELECTION<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-19050a9e-7fff-5c4b-3ef4-bffcbf5d6b3e"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">248-961-9610</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 24pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">SIERRA CLUB GETS A HEAD START ON 2022 ELECTION</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The environmental champions who are endorsed by the Club for re-election in 2022 are:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">State House</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Padma Kuppa (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelly Breen (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ranjeev Puri (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lori Stone (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julie Rogers (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regina Weiss (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Felicia Brabec (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kara Hope (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rachel Hood (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Abraham Aiyash (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laurie Pohutsky (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christine Morse (D)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">State Senate</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephanie Chang (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeremy Moss (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosemary Bayer (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeff Irwin (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Erika Geiss (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winnie Brinks (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mallory McMorrow (D)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sean McCann (D)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It is extremely important that we support incumbent pro environment legislators.” said </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, Political Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark Meadows, Political Chair of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)
</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-60178848975921484402021-11-18T09:51:00.004-05:002021-11-18T09:51:54.236-05:00Sierra Club Statement on Permit Approval or Ajax Asphalt Plant in Genesee Township<p> <b>FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Contact:</b> Gail
Philbin, Gail.Philbin@sierraclub.org <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sierra Club Statement
on Permit Approval or Ajax Asphalt Plant in Genesee Township<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“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. <a href="https://earthjustice.org/news/press/2021/michigan-approves-another-polluter-in-flint#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20Michigan%20Department%20of,ongoing%20and%20legacy%20industrial%20pollution.">Sierra
Club supports the Flint based coalition members and environmental law firms
which have fought this permit</a> and are now pursuing a civil rights complaint
to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Civil Rights’ Office on EGLE's action.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"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.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">###<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">About the Sierra Club<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">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.<o:p></o:p></p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-76627667856733495222021-11-12T10:30:00.005-05:002021-11-15T11:46:55.706-05:00Sierra Club Commends Legislative Democrats Climate Resiliency Bill Package <p><br /></p><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-7a0f33b5-7fff-2a65-945b-7dcb65af368b"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tim Minotas, </span><a href="mailto:tim.minotas@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Commends Legislative Democrats Climate Resiliency Bill Package </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LANSING, MI</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - 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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Included in the climate resilience package are proposals for:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A disaster relief and weatherization navigator program to help assist individuals in navigating the complicated web of assistance programs related to these specific areas</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expanding the percentage of how much Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) dollars can be spent on weatherization.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A green infrastructure permit for MDOT highway projects, which would require them to consider forecasted climate conditions and green infrastructure alternatives in their projects.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Requiring water utilities in the state to have backup power sources for their water pumps if the primary source fails.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local municipalities to develop their own stormwater utility system</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.”</span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the Sierra Club: </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-16039528492199902952021-11-03T15:40:00.001-04:002021-11-03T15:40:30.085-04:00Sierra Club endorsed candidates make gains in local races <p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-03918d57-7fff-3f0d-5a11-f74a5dce0097"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, November 3, 2021</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club endorsed candidates make gains in local races </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Media Contacts: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas: 248-961-9610</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This is a crucial time in Michigan for setting a new, higher standard when it comes to environmental policy”, said </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “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.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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 </span><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/Michigan" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.sierraclub.org/Michigan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paid for by Michigan Sierra PAC (109 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Lansing, MI 48906)</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-39711277614821049372021-09-09T14:19:00.006-04:002021-09-09T14:26:37.401-04:00Sierra Club calls for EGLE reforms in support of Benton Harbor Community Water Council Petition to EPA <p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, September 9, 2021</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, 808-726-5325 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">christy.mcgillivray@<wbr></wbr>sierraclub.org</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><h2 style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sierra Club calls for EGLE reforms in support of Benton Harbor Community Water Council Petition to EPA </span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - 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). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“State regulators have been rubber stamping too much for too long,” said <b>Rhonda Anderson </b>with<b> Sierra Club</b>. “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.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Anderson</b> 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.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the Sierra Club</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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, </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.sierraclub.org&source=gmail&ust=1631296870817000&usg=AFQjCNG0N0MFd83GvkTyty-02AzG0wp60g" href="http://www.sierraclub.org/" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">visit www.sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p>EPAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01628516286925759314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-30429023011388435152021-08-31T12:30:00.001-04:002021-08-31T12:30:33.399-04:00Sierra Club Ramps up Massive Mobilization to Protect Democracy <p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Media Contact:</b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org"><b>Christy
McGillivray</b></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org">christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">808-726-5325 <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b> </b><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sierra Club Ramps up Massive
Mobilization to Protect Democracy</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Lansing, MI (August 31, 2021)</b> – 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: <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> “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 <b>Christy McGillivray, the Political and Legislative
Director for the Michigan Chapter of Sierra Club</b>. ”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.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> “Voter suppression in Michigan is part of a nationwide
push to hamstring our democracy,” said<b> Courtney Hight, the Democracy Program
Director for the Sierra Club</b>. “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.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">###<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>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 </i><a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/Michigan"><i>www.sierraclub.org/Michigan</i></a><i>.</i><o:p></o:p></p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-16719862778988257032021-07-07T16:16:00.005-04:002021-07-07T16:29:14.470-04:00Governor Whitmer invests $150 million into Local Parks and Recreation <p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-199ac1d8-7fff-3f65-3b77-7a744392f1d2"><span id="docs-internal-guid-033ab71f-7fff-c26b-eeb9-ef1e62893ee7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, July 7th</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact: Tim Minotas, tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Governor Whitmer invests $150 million into Local Parks and Recreation </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It is great to see this type of funding into our state’s outdoor areas,” said </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “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.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-19138195219519189392021-07-01T10:50:00.001-04:002021-07-01T10:50:27.926-04:00Thousands Fight Back Against Voter Suppression <p> <span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Media Contact:</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Christy McGillivray</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>808-726-5325 </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Thousands Fight Back Against Voter Suppression </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>More than 1,500 Michigan Sierra Club Members call in support of free and fair elections </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.” </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></span></p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-2994685308085529932021-04-30T12:54:00.001-04:002021-04-30T12:54:24.863-04:00 Sierra Club Applauds Bipartisan Community Solar Legislation<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sierra Club Applauds Bipartisan Community Solar Legislation</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-33b193e9-7fff-06a8-dfce-7a32fd4c1b12"><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI -</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 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.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response, Tim Minotas, a Legislative and Political Coordinator with the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-66608438198017084392021-04-30T12:25:00.003-04:002021-04-30T12:25:33.791-04:00Voter Suppression: Senate Elections Committee busy rushing laws to Suppress the vote in Michigan<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d2c99ffa-7fff-1316-07e4-a5e254fad8af"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wednesday, April 28, 2021</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contact: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christy McGillivray, </span><a href="mailto:christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, </span><a href="mailto:tim.minotas@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voter Suppression: Senate Elections Committee busy rushing laws to Suppress the vote in Michigan</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1829b2ef-7fff-a3a6-eab0-dfd3f8fa3200"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lansing, MI - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response, Christy McGillivray the Legislative and Political Director of Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter, released the following statement:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.” </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-16417678050636997922021-03-11T11:10:00.004-05:002021-03-11T11:10:57.196-05:00 Press Statement: Sierra Club MI Applauds Michael Regan’s Historic Confirmation <p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Press Statement: Sierra Club MI Applauds Michael Regan’s Historic Confirmation</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-57e02dca-7fff-3034-a7ac-4bd92d2b9578"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sarah Tresedder, Climate Action Organizer at the MI Chapter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Regan is a true environmental champion, who has spent his entire career fighting for vulnerable communities and promoting environmental justice.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Michael Regan is the most qualified candidate to lead the Biden administration’s Environmental Protection Agency,” said </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Political and Legislative Coordinator for the Chapter. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“With him leading the way, we are hopeful that our state and country can build back better toward a more sustainable future for all.” </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">###</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-30991290540722503872021-02-26T14:57:00.000-05:002021-02-26T14:57:18.555-05:00Environmental Groups Applaud Bills To Update Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">CONTACT:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Tim Minotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:tim.minotas@sierraclub.org" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">248-961-9610</span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-75777a68-7fff-40d3-66d2-ace2738a57a1" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Sean McBrearty</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="mailto:smcbrearty@cleanwater.org" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">smcbrearty@cleanwater.org</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">616-516-7758</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Environmental Groups Applaud Bills To Update Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">In response to the bill introduction, Sierra Club and Clean Water Action released the following statements:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.” - </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- Mary Brady-Enerson, Michigan Director, Clean Water Action</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">###</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-40752977866589990482021-02-11T13:18:00.002-05:002021-02-11T13:18:34.807-05:00Whitmer Signals Commitment to Building Michigan Back Better with Budget<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-359ce951-7fff-7b8c-854d-eaf89941a78e"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(248) 961-9610</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">tim.minotas@sierraclub.org</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whitmer Signals Commitment to Building Michigan Back Better with Budget</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“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 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim Minotas, Legislative and Political Coordinator of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “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.”</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">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.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">##</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587779078290564168.post-38322317854315840192021-02-10T17:26:00.000-05:002021-02-10T17:26:04.138-05:00Sierra Club Applauds Efforts to Protect Great Lakes and Michigan Waterways from Dangerous Dock Collapses <p> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </p><p>CONTACT:</p><p>Justin Onwenu </p><p>justin.onwenu@sierraclub.org </p><p>313-405-5900</p><p><br /></p><p>Christy McGillivray</p><p>Christy.mcgillivray@sierraclub.org </p><p>808-726-5325</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Sierra Club Applauds Efforts to Protect Great Lakes and Michigan Waterways from Dangerous Dock Collapses </span></b></p><p>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. <b>Stephanie Chang</b> (D-Detroit), Sen.<b> Rosemary Bayer</b> (D-Beverly Hills), and Sen. <b>Erika Geiss </b>(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.</p><p><b>Senate Bill 122</b> 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 <b>Nicholas Leonard, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center in Detroit</b>, “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.” </p><p><b>Senate Bill 123</b> 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 <b>Christy McGillivray, Legislative and Political Director for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter </b>“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.”</p><p>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. <b>Senate Bill 124</b> 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 <b>Justin Onwenu, a Detroit based Environmental Justice Organizer for the Sierra Club</b>. “Michigan authorities and the public have a right to know when our Great Lakes and drinking water sources are threatened.”</p>Tim Minotashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08510444138342155774noreply@blogger.com