Michigan Environmental Report

DTE Energy’s attempts to significantly raise rates on residential customers and continue operating dirty, expensive power plants recently took a significant hit from an administrative law judge who issued a set of recommendations on the utility’s proposed rate case.

The Michigan Energy Efficiency For All coalition, of which Michigan Environmental Council is a part of, sent a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday urging her to protect and strengthen the essential services residents need to remain healthy and in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter is provided in full below. You can view a PDF version here.

Michigan Environmental Council was among the low-income customer and energy efficiency advocates across Michigan who called on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Wednesday to protect and strengthen the essential services residents need to remain healthy and in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan Environmental Council has closed its physical Lansing office to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus COVID-19, following guidance from the state of Michigan and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On Thursday, February 27 the Environmental Rules Review Committee (ERRC) will meet at 1 PM to vote on the draft rules that set limits for PFAS in drinking water. Under Michigan law the ERRC can vote to approve the draft rules, approve the draft rules with modification, or reject the draft rules. The ERRC vote comes after a month-long public comment period during which thousands of Michigan residents weighed in to support the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s effort to adopt PFAS drinking water standards. Environmental and community groups issued the following statements urging the ERRC to approve the draft rules as is.

Today, the Michigan Senate voted 20-16 to reject Anna Mitterling’s appointment to the Natural Resources Commission.

Michigan Environmental Council and Michigan Trout Unlimited issued the following statement in response:

“Today, Senate leadership voted down a very well-qualified appointee to the Natural Resources Commission reputedly because she uses sound science to guide her policy decisions,” said Michigan Environmental Council President and CEO Conan Smith. “If Michigan is to successfully manage the crises facing our deer and other game populations -- threats such as chronic wasting disease, habitat loss, and a changing climate -- it is simply unacceptable to ignore scientific principles in favor of emotion and politics. We must use the best research available to guide our decisions so that our conservation heritage is protected.”

Today Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s second executive budget was released. It included $10 million for a new Lead Poisoning Prevention Fund to protect Michigan families from lead in their homes. Michigan Environmental Council released the following statement in support of this funding recommendation:

“We applaud Governor Whitmer’s creative proposal to invest $10 million to unlock private capital and get low interest loans in the hands of residents who simply can't afford the high cost of making their home lead safe,” said Tina Reynolds, Michigan Environmental Council Program Director for Environmental Health.

Legislation introduced today by Representative Yousef Rabhi (D-Ann Arbor) and Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) would set a 100% renewable energy standard by 2050 for Michigan, requiring utilities to get 100% of their energy from renewable sources by 2050. Achieving 100% renewable energy is a critical and necessary step to curb toxic air and water pollution and mitigate the impacts of climate change.