that GREEN blog | The Future’s Getting Restless

The Future’s Getting Restless

04.18.2008by Editor in Community, Energy Efficiency, Politics

On Thursday, April 17, 2008, the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition and Global Exchange held a day of action at the state capitol in Lansing, Mi to push for strong renewable energy and energy efficiency legislation. The day of action called, “Re-New Michigan,” was aimed at the joint demand of reinvigorating the Michigan economy and confronting the climate crisis through the development of green industry in Michigan.

The “Re-New Michigan” day of action brought together 65 youth from around the state of Michigan ranging in age from elementary students to college graduates. The day of action included lobby meetings with the Michigan Senate and a rally at the west capitol lawn with speeches from: Erica Tauzer of Albion College, Danielle Ostafinski of Grand Valley State University, Michael Collins of Michigan State University, Sarah Mulkoff of Michigan State University, Brad Baughman of Alma College, Tremaine Phillips of Michigan State University, Ian Hoffback of Calvin College, Lee Sprague of the Sierra Club and Brandon Knight of Global Exchange. The Re-New Michigan day of action was in support of the M.S.S.C.’s Clean Energy Future Campaign that includes 5 demands from the Michigan Legislature:

Renewable energy standard (RES) of at least 25% by 2025.
Energy efficiency (EE) standard requiring 2% annual energy efficiency increases in this state between now and 2015, with a commitment to the renegotiation of a stronger standard after 2015.
Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), which would require state regulators to consider demand-side options like energy efficiency programs as well as supply-side options in their efforts to meet Michigan’s needs for energy, equity, and the environment.
A moratorium on new coal-fired and nuclear power plants in Michigan.
Low carbon fuel standards

“Michigan stands to benefit immensely from supporting a clean energy economy. We have the manufacturing base that can build the wind turbines, solar panels and clean cars that can reinvigorate the economy and build pathways out of poverty,” said Sarah Mulkoff of Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition. “Michigan has the opportunity to become a clean energy manufacturing powerhouse, and to bring green economy jobs to the region, and to help solve the climate crisis.”

“Our world is at a crossroads,” added Andrew Munn, coordinator of Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition. “The actions we take today as a society to address the challenge of climate change will determine the future of our generation and generations to come. The time has come for us to make a change.”

For more information on the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, please visit: www.groups.google.com/group/mssc_mi. For more information on the Re-New Michigan effort please visit: www.greenmi.org.