You want it. I want it. Polls show most of the American people want it. In his State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama made it clear that he wanted it, that Senator John Kerry wanted it, and that even conservative Senator Lindsey Graham wanted it.
That "it" is comprehensive clean energy jobs legislation that would free the United States from our dependence on foreign oil. For Michigan, comprehensive legislation will rev the engine of our clean energy economy, which is already driving our economic resurgence.
Stop the Asian Carp Invasion! Tell the President, the EPA, and the Army Corp of Engineers that the Great Lakes are too precious to be turned over to this invasive species.
Over the past few months, you've joined us in calling for swift action to stop the Asian carp invasion of our Great Lakes. We're down to the wire now, and we need to shut down the locks linking the Chicago river - where we know there are carp - and our precious Great Lakes via Lake Michigan. Earlier this week, Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm joined in a summit at the White House to discuss the threat with Obama administration officials and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
During the summit, representatives from Obama's administration said that the locks would be closed-but only at certain times! What's to stop the carp from swimming through any time the locks are open?
With less than 24 hours to make their decisions, Representatives John Conyers, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Mark Schauer joined their colleagues in the Senate, Senators Carol Levin and Debbie Stabenow, in voicing their support for fully funding programs that will reduce dangerous diesel emissions.
President Barack Obama will be releasing another jobs creation package, and with our Michigan contingent standing up in support of this very important program, we are delighted to note that funding for this important program could be included. Michigan ranks second in the United States in the number of people we employ in the emissions reduction manufacturing industry. This funding will ratchet that number up, creating more good paying jobs for hard-working Michiganders.
Stop the Asian Carp Invasion! Tell the President, the EPA, and the Army Corp of Engineers that the Great Lakes are too precious to be turned over to this invasive species.
Over the past few months, you've joined us in calling for swift action to stop the Asian carp invasion of our Great Lakes. We're down to the wire now, and we need to shut down the locks linking the Chicago river - where we know there are carp - and our precious Great Lakes via Lake Michigan. Earlier this week, Michigan's Governor Jennifer Granholm joined in a summit at the White House to discuss the threat with Obama administration officials and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn.
During the summit, representatives from Obama's administration said that the locks would be closed-but only at certain times! What's to stop the carp from swimming through any time the locks are open?
Now is the time to get Michigan's economy going! Ask your State Representative ReEnergize Michigan
Just recently, the very first battery pack for the Michigan-made Chevy Volt rolled off the line at GM's new Brownstown Assembly Plant, signaling another giant leap forward for Michigan's clean energy economy.
General Motors is making major investments all over the state as the car maker prepares to ramp up production of the hybrid electric Volt, revving up our economy and speeding along the path to a cleaner, greener Michigan.
As part of that green revolution, we're working hard to re-energize Michigan by reducing fuel emissions that cause global warming and health problems, and sending a signal that here in Michigan, we are committed to leading the world in advanced battery technology. Now it's time for our lawmakers to join in by supporting a fuel emissions reduction and the entire ReEnergize Michigan! legislative package.
Anyone whose ever been stuck behind a dump truck knows the black exhaust pouring out of diesel-powered vehicles is unpleasant, to say the least. What they, and you, might not know is what's in the exhaust and how it affects us. The black exhaust pouring out of diesel vehicles chips away at our health, putting Michiganders at an increased risk of heart attacks, lung cancer, and asthma. Diesel pollution is a silent killer.
In Michigan alone, it is annually estimated to cause the early deaths of 443 people, more than 15,000 asthma attacks, 648 non-fatal heart attacks, and over 57,000 lost work days. Further, diesel emissions have been shown to have 7 times the lifetime cancer risk than that posed by all the other 181 hazardous air pollutants combined.
As our lawmakers decide how to vote on clean energy legislation, they face pressure from the special interest lobbies of dirty coal and big oil to maintain the status quo. During these times, congressional staffers report what the public is saying--both what they hear directly, and what is said through local newspapers.
That is why we are calling on you - a clean energy and climate policy supporter - to write your local newspaper to urge passage of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act that is currently in the Senate.
It's time David Joos and Consumers Energy got the message: we need to move beyond coal and into a clean energy future. Add your name to the growing list of Michigan ratepayers who refuse to put billions of hard-earned dollars into a risky investment.
Ratepayers like us deserve the best our money can buy: aggressive energy efficiency initiatives, investment in clean energy technology like wind and solar, and a commitment to move beyond coal into a clean energy future.
Since 2002, we have known that one million gallons of untreated waste leak daily from failing septic systems in Kent County. Our community has spoken out loud and clear against this pollution. Now, we are delighted to announce that County Commissioners Brandon Dillon and Sandi Parrish have recently committed to moving forward this year to solve this threat to our water and our health.
Take a moment to thank Commissioners Dillon and Parrish for their leadership.They need to know they have your strong support in moving forward.
Clean energy jobs are essential to Michigan's future.
Tell Sen. Levin and Sen. Stabenow to help pass climate change legislation now
We're moving Michigan forward every day, bearing down on our goal: a clean energy future for Michigan, 54,000 clean energy jobs for hard-working Michigan families, and a giant leap forward for the entire nation.
Prominent conservative Republicans are jumping on board. Already Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Lisa Murkowski have said they're ready to be flexible and consider the clean energy jobs legislation, but their far-right counterparts are trying to stall our progress and delay a vote.
Your commitment to contacting Sen. Levin and Sen. Stabenow and bringing your friends and family on board is paying off. We're marching down the field toward our goal, and nothing - not even the Republicans latest attempt to delay - is going to stop us.
Won't you join us in sending an e-mail a week to Senators Stabenow and Levin to keep the pressure on until they pass the energy bills?
Governor Granholm started Michigan on the course toward a clean energy future in February when she announced a requirement that prior to building new coal plants there must be a proven need for the new power as well as a study of other potential sources of energy. Please take a minute to thank Governor Granholm for requiring utilities to prove the need for new power and to review alternatives to coal plants.
Michigan is currently at a crossroads to secure our economic and energy future. Bold, immediate leadership is required to bring new industries to Michigan - including clean, alternative energy sources like advanced batteries, wind, energy efficiency and solar power - before other states position themselves as the leaders and draw investment in these emerging industries. By acting now, we can make Michigan a leader and make clean energy the profitable kind of energy.
Canada and other states continue to flood Michigan with their garbage because it's dirt cheap to dump here. In 2005, 6.2 million tons of Canadian and out-of-state trash were dumped in Michigan!
That's 100,000 tons more than in 2004. Nearly one-third of all the garbage in our landfills comes from outside Michigan and it comes here for two simple reasons:
You can help fight the trashing of our beautiful state! Write your State Senator and Representative today and urge them to stop the flood of trash into Michigan.
Sign up to be a Climate Precinct Captain with 1Sky and Clean Water Action today!
Join Clean Water Action & 1Sky Michigan to send a clear message to our leaders that America wants bold action on climate change. Tell them to support solutions for a better future for the Great Lakes State and the rest of the nation!
Michigan's waters are our most prized asset and we must do all we can to ensure they are public resources not private investments for international corporations.
1Sky was created to focus the power of millions of concerned Americans on a single goal: bold federal action by 2010 to reverse global warming based on a simple set of solutions. We're creating a movement that our leaders can't ignore!
Protecting children from pharmaceutical lindane, working to ban the flame retardant, deca-BDE, working to promote alternatives to PBDEs, flame-retardants that are rapidly accumulating in our bodies and the Great Lakes, have been found to be toxic to animals and may threaten our own health are all part of our Children's Environmental Health Campaign
Approximately 1 million gallons of untreated waste is discharged from Kent County's failing septic systems every day. While there are a variety of reasons why residents don't properly maintain their septic systems there is one resounding reason why we should: untreated waste doesn't obey property boundaries!
Taking the Next Steps Toward Michigan's Clean Energy Future
On September 18th, Michigan’s legislature passed an energy package that makes slight headway down the path to bringing clean, renewable energy to the state. Now that the first step has been taken, Clean Water Action will keep pressure on decision-makers to strengthen Michigan’s energy policy to make us a national leader in renewable energy manufacturing. Together, we can make sure that the momentum is not slowed in the wake of the energy package’s passage.
Diesel engines are the workhorses of our economy, found in everything from ships and trains to school and city buses, construction and agricultural vehicles, long-haul trucks and many other vehicles that keep our economy humming. However, the black exhaust that pours out of diesel vehicles is a silent killer, contributing to 21,000 early deaths in the United States each year.

That's what a large statewide coalition of businesses, communities,faith-based groups, environmental organizations, labor unions, everyday working families and your neighbors are working together to accomplish today.
Michigan is at a crossroads and the time for positive change is now.
That's why we're coming together: to ReEnergize Michigan!, with more renewable energy, more energy efficiency - and more clean energy jobs.