Michigan Environmental Report
News from Michigan Environmental Council on public policies affecting the health of Michigan's people and environment
Lead Education Day: MEC and partners take to the Capitol to protect Michigan kids
The Michigan Environmental Council joined more than 30 advocates at the State Capitol yesterday to educate lawmakers about the dangers of lead poisoning and the urgent need to maintain the state's current funding for removing lead hazards from homes.
MEC boosts capacity at Capitol
MEC is proud to announce that we've hired Sean Hammond to strengthen our team of policy experts at the state Capitol.
Transportation funding: How'd we get here?
The package of transportation-funding bills Gov. Snyder signed earlier this month sets the stage for a ballot initiative with high stakes for drivers, transit riders and Michigan's economy.
Gov. Snyder stands up for biodiversity. Help us say thanks!
Gov. Rick Snyder today took a stand for conservation and good science by vetoing Senate Bill 78, which would have blocked state agencies from designating land to protect biodiversity.
White River Township seeks funding to purchase lakefront land at center of dune debate
One of MEC's most-read blog posts was a 2013 analysis that pointed out serious flaws in-and helped build the opposition needed to block-a controversial proposal to develop a road through a public dune preserve on the Lake Michigan coast.
Lame duck update: The Ugly, the Good and the Bad
With Michigan's lame duck session in full swing, we thought we'd update Michigan Distilled readers on what has been a veryinteresting-yes, we'll go with interesting-week at the Capitol.
MEC, ZWD urge lawmakers to send waste-to-energy bill to the trash heap
Update 2: The Senate did not take up HB 5205 before the end of the legislative session, so the bill is dead (for now). Thanks to everyone who spoke out against this bad legislation and in support of real renewable energy!
Update: The House has approved HB 5205. Please join MEC in urging your senator to stop this irresponsible bill from moving any further.
The Michigan Environmental Council and Zero Waste Detroit are urging lawmakers to vote down legislation approved by a House committee that would expand the state's definition of renewable energy to include the burning of hazardous waste, warning that it would harm the health of Michigan residents and hobble the state's growing clean-energy industry