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"Michigan residents want more clean energy that will reduce pollution, protect our health, keep our air and Great Lakes clean, and hedge against higher electric rates in Michigan."

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Also Make Clean Air a Priority, Group Urges Gov. Snyder,

January 20, 2015       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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Governor Rick Snyder delivered his fifth State of the State address on Tuesday and members of the Clean Energy Now coalition are urging him to make renewable energy a top priority in 2015, including advancing legislation to increase the state's renewable energy and energy efficiency standards.

Utilities are on track to meet the current 10 percent renewable energy goal by the end of this year, according to the Coalition.

"The governor has an opportunity to make Michigan a clean energy leader and leave a lasting legacy in our state by increasing our renewable energy and energy efficiency standards," said Eric Keller, campaign director with Clean Water Action, commenting further:

"Michigan residents want more clean energy that will reduce pollution, protect our health, keep our air and Great Lakes clean, and hedge against higher electric rates in Michigan."

A 2013 report prepared for the governor by the Michigan Energy Office and the Michigan Public Service Commission found that utilities are capable of reaching a 30 percent renewable energy standard by 2035.

A more recent study by the University of Michigan's Energy Institute found that legislators could increase Michigan's renewable energy standard to 40 percent in the same time frame with little cost to ratepayers.

Michigan's largest utilities, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, have both dropped their renewable energy surcharges because the cost of renewable energy continues to plummet.

"Now is the time to act. We know that using more clean energy is an achievable and absolutely necessary goal," said Regina Strong, director of the Sierra Club's Michigan Beyond Coal Campaign, adding:

"Climate disruption from our over reliance on dirty, outdated coal and natural gas is wreaking havoc on our air and water and threatening our health, causing asthma and other diseases. Transitioning to clean, renewable energy and becoming more energy efficient will help to rein in the impacts of climate change -- improving public health and protecting our air, land and Great Lakes."

The coalition is also calling on the governor to voice strong support for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan, which will reduce pollution from power plants, ensure that utilities are being held accountable to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) as they implement the use of renewables and energy efficiency technology, and ensure that Michigan utilities are not able to pressure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to weaken the language of environmental rules and safeguards.

### Clean Energy Now is a coalition of groups that supports policies that will move Michigan beyond coal power and toward greater use of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency as a way to protect the environment and build prosperity. Follow the campaign at CleanEnergyNowMI.org.



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Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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