Energy concerns for Michigan
LANSING – As Governor Rick Snyder’s administration wraps up a series of public forums regarding Michigan’s energy future, Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs said Thursday a path toward a long-term plan that includes more renewable energy and energy efficiency is critical to grow jobs, spark new businesses in the state, help rein in rising energy costs and improve public health.
“The energy forums showed people from all backgrounds support moving Michigan forward with stronger renewable energy and energy efficiency standards because it means more jobs for Michigan workers and more opportunities for Michigan businesses,” said Tim Pulliam, co-founder of Keen Technical Solutions in Traverse City. “The data shows our state’s renewable energy and energy efficiency programs are a huge success story for Michigan, and those successes should be built upon and continued into the future.”
Michigan’s current renewable energy standard expires in 2015, leaving in doubt the future of Michigan’s $5-billion clean energy sector and the 20,500 Michigan jobs it supports.
“As Governor Snyder has said, we need to set new goals before the current renewable energy standard expires,” Pulliam said. “We must come together on a long-term energy plan for Michigan that doesn’t put these businesses and jobs in peril.”
Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs fully supported the governor’s process and participated in each of the governor’s seven forums, and also submitted online comments. Members of the coalition also collected thousands of petitions from clean energy supporters.
Michigan is currently falling behind in the clean energy race. Nearly 30 other states, including Midwest states like Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, have stronger renewable energy or energy efficiency standards than Michigan.
Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs is a bipartisan coalition of more than 300 Michigan businesses, health professionals, labor unions, academics and scientists, agricultural and rural voices, faith leaders, environmental and conservation groups and more.
More information about Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs can be found at www.mienergymijobs.com. Follow the coalition on Twitter @MIEnergyMIJobs or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MIEnergyMIJobs.