THE MI HEALTHY CLIMATE PLAN
Michigan’s pathway to carbon neutrality
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Preserve Michigan's natural resources
With the MI Healthy Climate Plan, we will protect 30 percent of Michigan’s land and water by 2030 to naturally capture greenhouse gas emissions. As a part of this effort, the state will not interfere with treaty rights, and will work with Michigan farmers to improve soil health and protect water quality.
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Spur economic development
By acting aggressively on climate, we can build on Michigan’s strengths in manufacturing and the automotive industry and ensure Michigan remains the automotive capital.
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Create good-paying jobs
Michigan is home to over 113,000 clean energy jobs — with a majority in manufacturing and construction. Clean energy jobs pay up to 25% more than the national media wage and are more likely to be unionized and come with health care and retirement benefits. With the MI Healthy Climate plan, we will see an increase in these good-paying, clean energy jobs.
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Protect the health of Michiganders
Studies show that breathing in pollution leads to decreased lung function, increased levels of asthma, exacerbated respiratory symptoms such as coughing or difficulty breathing, and even premature death in people with heart and lung disease.
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Make Michigan energy independent
To meet our climate goals, Michigan will increase the adoption of wind and solar generation, increase energy waste reduction, invest in grid infrastructure and planning, and ensure all of these plans are done in a just and equitable way.
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Address environmental injustices
For both power generation and transportation, fossil-fuel related infrastructure are often located in low-income communities and communities of color subjecting them to increased levels of air and water pollution causing health impacts. Similarly, environmental impacts disproportionately burden our tribal nations who rely on the land for hunting and fishing.
Some of the highlights of the plan include:
Achieving 100% carbon neutrality by 2050
Michigan has an opportunity to become carbon neutral by 2050, which will help boost our clean energy economy, reduce pollution in our air and protect our health.
60% clean energy by 2030
By investing in clean, renewable energy like affordable wind and solar, we can create jobs while ensuring our kids and grandkids have clean air to breathe
Close all coal plants by 2030
Coal plants are a major source of pollution, causing asthma, lung and heart disease and poor air quality. The MI Healthy Climate plan calls for closing all coal plants by 2030 to move our state passed this outdated form of energy.
Preserve 30% of Michigan’s land and water by 2030
Michigan’s land and water drive our economy and are part of who we are. By preserving 30% of our land and water by 2030, we can protect our natural resources, improve outdoor access for all and capture greenhouse gas emissions.
Support 2 million electric vehicles by 2030
As the auto capital of the world, Michigan can lead on the move toward electric vehicles. The MI Healthy Climate Plan will help support this transition with more charging stations and electric vehicle development.
45% recycling by 2030
The MI Healthy Climate Plan will direct at least 40% of state funding for climate-related and water infrastructure initiatives to benefit communities impacted by climate change the most.
SAVING MICHIGANDERS MONEY WITH CLIMATE ACTION
For every $1 invested in reducing energy waste in our homes, homeowners save more than $3.20 in future energy bills.
With the MI Healthy Climate Plan, investing in energy efficiency through more efficient windows, lighting, and other energy-saving technologies, homeowners will see lower bills.
Producing clean energy right here in the mitten will save working families money and boost our local economy instead of sending billions out-of-state.
Michigan spends billions of dollars out-of-state annually to purchase fossil fuels. Producing more energy right here in Michigan through clean, renewable resources will result in direct savings to Michiganders.
Electric vehicle owners are expected to save between $6,000 and $10,000 over the life of the vehicle compared to a gas-powered vehicle
Charging electric vehicles is half as expensive as the equivalent in gas, and electric vehicles require half the repairs and half as much to maintain. With bold investments in EV infrastructure, we will save Michiganders money and decrease pollution.
100% clean energy means:
$10B in new statewide investment
Create $8B of consumer savings (with $1 = $7.70 of benefits)
Create a net 96,000 jobs
According to this article from UMich, air pollution causes:
690 deaths
1,800 hospitalizations/ER visits
and costs $6.9B in missed work/school days in the city of Detroit annually
Members of the Council on Climate Solutions include:
Brandon Hofmeister, Senior Vice President of Government, Regulatory, and Public Affairs at Consumers Energy
Phyllis Meadows, Senior Fellow at the Kresge Foundation
Samuel Stolper, Environmental Economist and Professor at the University of Michigan
William Beaver, Natural Resources Director for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians
Marnese Jackson, Co-Director of Community Engagement and Equity at the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition
Cynthia Render-Williams, Global Director of Sustainability at Ford Motor Co.
Rondald Voglewede, Director of Sustainability at Whirpool Corporation
Kerry Duggan, Founder and Principal at SustainabilID
Johnathan Overpeck, Dean at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability
Tanya Paslawski, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Energy Innovation Business Council
Derrell Slaughter, Clean Energy Advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council
Phil Roos, CEO of Great Lakes GrowthWorks
Kevin Kolevar, Vice President of Government Affairs, Public Policy, and Issues Management at Dow Chemical Company
James Harrison, Director of Renewable Energy for the Utility Workers Union of America