It's time to embrace the incredible potential of clean, renewable energy!

In Sunday’s edition of the Detroit Free Press, former DEQ Director Steven Chester outlined some very compelling reasons why Michigan should adopt an advanced strategy to reduce greenhouse gasses and mitigate the effects of global climate change.

Foremost among the reasons is, not shockingly, that such a strategy could benefit our economy. Chester acknowledges that our dedication to a manufacturing monoculture presents unique challenges and opportunities. While the automobile industry will never exist as it once did, now is the time to make an “extraordinary transition” to diversify our economy. Our existing manufacturing infrastructure enables us to create jobs and develop technology in emerging markets, particularly the renewable energy production market

Chester points out the disturbing fact that every year, about $20 billion leaves the state of Michigan in the form of energy purchases. This happens in large part because 60 % of the electricity we use in Michigan comes from coal-powered plants, and we import from other states 100% of the coal we burn. Think of the billions of dollars we as a state could save if all of the electricity we currently get from imported coal was replaced by homegrown sources of energy!

In addition to the economic impacts, impacts on our health, natural resources, and way of life are also valid reasons to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the sooner the better. This point was made real for me in two very different ways last week, in two very different locations in the state.

At Michigan State University, Dr. Howard Frumkin of the Centers for Disease Control spoke about the effects climate change can have on human health, and the related economic impacts, including increases in disease and infection rates, increased medical care costs, decreasing availability of potable water, and decreasing food supply.

In Indian River, several statewide experts gathered to discuss the need to protect Michigan’s natural resource and tourism economy from the effects of changing climate. This is a matter of both heritage and economy, and the audience was given detailed analyses of the potential effects of climate change on our culture as well as on the larger economy.

Both of these events were given to packed audiences with standing room only, which speaks to the growing importance of this subject matter to people from various fields and backgrounds. Chester makes the point that, even if one doesn’t acknowledge global warming or climate change, our economy is in a very grave situation, and there are not a lot of clear ways to save it. We need to embrace every viable opportunity to grow our economy, rather than continue to wait in desperation for something to save us.