that GREEN blog

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:

1. Renewable energy standard (RES) of at least 25% by 2025.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A moratorium on new coal-fired and nuclear power plants in Michigan.
5. 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.

Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition Drops off 500 Valentines Cards to Michigan Legislature in Support for Clean Energy

At 10 a.m. on February 14th, 2008, the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition held a press conference at the state capitol in Lansing, Mi to announce the launch of the Energy Future campaign and to drop off Valentines Day cards to members of the Michigan Legislature. The event included an opening address by Rep. Gabe Leland (D — Detroit), and speeches by Sue Browne of the Blue Green Alliance, Rep. Fred Miller (D- 31st District), Rep. Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak), and Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith (D — 54th district). The M.S.S.C. had speeches from Chris Detjen, Erica Tauzer, Sarah Mulkoff and Tremaine Phillips. Members of the M.S.S.C. were also recognized on the house and Senate floor by Rep. Michael Sak (D — Distict 76) and Sen. Mark Schauer (D — district 19).

The M.S.S.C. dropped off the cards in conjunction with thousands of youth across the state that sent online Valentines Day cards to the state legislature over the past month through Cleanenergylove.com. The Valentines Day cards are in support of the Energy Future Campaign that includes 4 asks from the Michigan legislature:

1. A renewable energy standard (RES) of at least 25% by 2025.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A moratorium on new coal-fired power plants in Michigan.

“Think about our future as youth, both our economy and the places we will live in Michigan,” said Erica Tauzer of Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition. “Before we allow more dirty energy facilities to be built in Michigan, please recognize that in a few short years we will inherit these new facilities. We need the State Legislature to put policies in place that promote clean energy, job growth and a revitalization of the Michigan economy. Coal and nuclear facilities are old technology and we need to transition to clean sources of energy”

“Our world is at a crossroads,” added Tremaine Phillips, 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 Valentines Card Campaign, please visit: www.cleanenergylove.com.