A recently publicized report that touts the construction jobs associated with an increased use of natural gas for electricity fails to consider the ecological downsides of fracking, state environmental groups say.

Yesterday Interlochen Public Radio reported on Michigan State University Professor Bill Knudson's finding that switching from coal to natural gas could produce a boom in construction jobs.

Professor Bill Knudson says as many as 19,000 new construction jobs at electricity plants would cause unemployment to dip by about four-tenths of a percentage point.

"That's a one-time impact that occurs during the construction phase," he says. "Once the construction phase is over, then that economic impact kind-of disappears."

COMSTOCK TOWNSHIP -One year after the largest oil spill in the Midwest's history, representatives from three state environmental groups called on U.S. Reps Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, and Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, to support the regulatory powers of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"Last year's tragedy continues," said Cyndi Roper, Michigan director of Clean Water Action, an advocacy group.

That tragedy, Roper said, was that the two lawmakers supported the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, which would take away the EPA's oversight of water standards.

(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - One year ago today most of West Michigan learned of the Enbridge oil spill that flowed into Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River.

Clean up crews are still working on several parts of the river on this one-year anniversary.