There’s nothing I can say that countless state, federal, and international agencies, universities, and environmental organizations haven’t already confirmed time, and time, and time again:
Climate change is man-made and it’s the most immediate and pressing issue that we must solve as a species.
If we don’t end our reliance on fossil fuels and fail to make Michigan the leader in accelerating climate change solutions in the US, there won’t be a tomorrow for our children and grandchildren.
Even today, freak weather patterns that were previously considered anomalous are now commonplace. You’ve seen it; I’ve seen it. There’s no more debate.
Action is what’s needed. Today.
So what’s the plan?
We have to protect our natural resources, take immediate action on accelerating climate change solutions, and ensure that the renewable energy solutions we create are accessible to all Michiganders.
Shutdown Line 5
Line 5 is a single, 30-in diameter pipe except for the section that crosses the Straits of Mackinac. That 4.5-mile section is two separate pipelines, each 20 inches in diameter, that lie on the lake bottom. The pipeline’s route through the Straits is within an easement issued in 1953 by the State of Michigan.
Line 5 is maintained by Enbridge, the largest oil and gas transportation company in North America. A Canadian company, Enbridge, is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta and has been responsible for the two largest inland oil spills in the history of the United States.
There’s an endless amount of back-and-forth about this issue as I’m sure you’re well aware. There’s a great documentary produced by WDIV that I would recommend watching to get an understanding of what’s at stake.
Moreover, if you’re interested in what some of Michigan’s finest engineers from the University of Michigan College of Engineering have to say, they’ve provided a great breakdown of their risk concerns, how they see the science of Enbridge’s proposed tunnel system, and the like.
Here’s what it comes down to for me:
The potential cost increase of shutting down Line 5 entirely is roughly an added $0.05 cents/gallon to the cost of propane.
Let’s look at the data to see the actual economic projections for propane following the shutdown of Line 5.
In a comprehensive study by London Economics International that was designed and conducted to get to the economic truths of shutting down Line 5, doing so would elevate propane costs by $0.05/gallon (5 cents per gallon), which is well within the average price fluctuations we experience with propane on a year-to-year basis.
No matter how you slice it, the risks don’t justify any potential benefit Michiganders could gain from keeping Line 5 open.
Even if you weigh in every cent Michigan gains from Enbridge’s presence, the propane, the taxes Enbridge pays, the $500 million they want to spend on the concrete tunnel, and even their charitable contributions, it can’t even remotely hold a candle to the $6 TRILLION DOLLARS that The Great Lakes generate annually.
Manufacturing, tourism, transportation, warehousing, agriculture, fishing, food production, science and engineering, utilities, mining — all of these and so much more comprise more than 1.3 million jobs and more than $82 billion dollars in Great Lakes states’ wages.
You don’t have to take my word for any of this. Use Enbridge’s numbers that they give themselves. Even if you tally up all of the economic activity generated by Enbridge’s Line 5 presence, it can’t even come close to the $11.2 billion that The Great Lakes generate for our hunting and fishing industries alone.
Even if I was the most cold-hearted businessperson who looked solely at the numbers and didn’t give a single care about the environment, people, or anything that wasn’t money: How in the world could I even think about risking a machine that generates all of this and say, “Yeah. Let’s roll the dice on Enbridge!”
It’s asinine to put The Great Lakes at any risk. It’s our drinking water, it’s our livelihood, it’s our friends and neighbors, it’s Michigan’s very lifeblood.
It’s time to shut Line 5 down.
Accelerate the Use of Community Solar Programs
Community solar is defined as any solar project or purchasing program, within a geographic area, in which the benefits flow to multiple customers such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other groups. In most cases, customers benefit from energy generated by solar panels at an off-site array.
Community solar customers typically subscribe to—or in some cases own—a portion of the energy generated by a solar array, and receive an electric bill credit for electricity generated by their share of the community solar system. Community solar can be a great option for people who are unable to install solar panels on their roofs because they are renters, can’t afford solar, or because their roofs or electrical systems aren’t suited to solar.
Community solar is rapidly growing across the country, and it’s time Michigan takes its place as the leader in community solar programs to ensure equitable access to clean energy for lower- and middle-income families.
Long story short, it means supporting HB 4464 and 4465 to ensure lower energy costs for working families, drive greater investment in renewable energy for Michigan, and guarantee fairer access to our state’s green future.
Ban the Use of PFAS Chemicals
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. They have been used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil.
According to the federal government’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, PFAS chemicals are linked to:
Fertility issues and pregnancy-induced hypertension/preeclampsia
Increased cholesterol
Changes in the immune system
Increased risk of certain cancers (e.g., testicular and kidney cancer)
Changes in fetal and child development
Liver damage
Increased risk of thyroid disease
Increased risk of asthma
And now, researchers from the University of Indiana have confirmed that these toxic chemicals are building up in our Great Lakes. This is putting 95% of the country’s fresh water at risk and countless billions of dollars that the Great Lakes generate for Michigan annually.
It’s past time to ban the use of these harmful chemicals. If elected, I will be supporting HB 5657, also known as The Hazardous Products Act, to ensure that the use of PFAS chemicals are halted in our state.