michigan energy justice snapshot · the antrim gas field, located in michigan's lower...
TRANSCRIPT
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People,
Environmental and Climate Justice Program
MICHIGAN ENERGY JUSTICE
SNAPSHOT
1
MICHIGAN ENERGY JUSTICE SNAPSHOT
SUMMARY Access to clean energy is not just an
environmental issue, but also a civil right.
Communities of color bear a disproportionate
share of the burdens of the fossil fuel based
energy economy. This is why the NAACP
Environmental and Climate Justice Program
stands for just energy policies that will help
protect our communities from harmful energy
production processes and provide equitable
access to clean and renewable energy and the
energy economy.
This Snapshot profiles Michigan's energy
portfolio, compares key state energy policies to
NAACP recommendations, documents utility
disconnection policies, and outlines
opportunities in the clean energy economy for
Michiganians of color. As a resource rich state
with unique geographic and sociopolitical
landscapes, energy is often at the fore of state
policy debates. With this in mind, it is critically
important that NAACP leaders actively engage in
these debates to ensure that our community’s
needs motivate just energy policies. This
snapshot will provide information that will
inform NAACP members on avenues for
engagement.
STATE ENERGY PROFILE1 In October 2008, Michigan enacted the Clean,
Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act (Public act
295), requiring the state's investor-owned
utilities, alternative retail suppliers, electric
cooperatives, and municipal electric utilities to
generate 10 percent of their retail electricity
sales from renewable energy resources by 2015.
The standard allowed utilities to use energy
optimization (i.e. energy efficiency) and
advanced cleaner energy systems to meet a
limited portion of the requirement.
Under the standard, eligible renewable energy
include biomass, solar photovoltaics (PV) and
solar thermal, wind, geothermal, municipal solid
waste (MSW), *landfill gas, existing
hydroelectric, tidal, wave, and water current
(e.g., run of river hydroelectric) resources.
Michigan is relatively limited in most energy
resources and imports 97 percent of its
petroleum needs, 82 percent of its natural
gas and 100 percent of coal and nuclear fuel
from other states and nation.
Michigan has limited crude oil production
from small wells scattered across the Lower
Peninsula. Michigan oil production peaked in
1979 at 35 million barrels per year and has
since declined to 6.5 million barrels in
2010.2As a result, the vast majority of crude
oil is imported through two major pipelines
which cross Michigan from western Canada.
These are part of the Enbridge Pipeline
System. Michigan has substantial ethanol
production capacity with five operating
ethanol plants and a combined capacity of
268 million gallons per year.
Natural gas production in Michigan is
substantial and supplies about 18 percent of
the State’s demand for natural gas. Natural
gas wells are concentrated in the Antrim
geological formations in the northern portion
of the Lower Peninsula.
Michigan's Coal and Electric, power plants
can generate a total of 30,308 Megawatts
(net summer capacity).5 These range from the
largest, Detroit Edison’s 3,129 MW coal-fired
power plant in Monroe, to smaller distributed
generators run by hydro and wind.
Renewable Energy has significant potential
Michigan, particularly from: biomass;
2
hydroelectricity, liquid fuels from agricultural
and forestry feedstock; wind, generally near
the Great Lakes shorelines and in the Thumb
region; and solar. In 2009, about 4 percent of
the electricity production in Michigan was
derived from renewable energy sources. This
percentage has been steadily increasing as a
result of Public Act 295 (PA 295) of 2008
which established a 10 percent Renewable
Energy Standard (RPS) based on retail sales
by the end of 2015.2
Energy Portfolio3
In 2014, Michigan had more underground
natural gas storage capacity – almost 1.1
trillion cubic feet – than any other state in the
nation.
The Antrim Gas Field, located in Michigan's
Lower Peninsula, is one of the nation's top
100 natural gas fields. More than 95 billion
cubic feet of natural gas was produced from
Michigan's Antrim Shale in 2014.
In 2015, Michigan’s three nuclear power
plants, with four reactor units, provided
25.7% of the state's net electricity generation.
Michigan used coal for 46.4% of its net
electricity generation in 2015. Much of
Michigan's coal is brought by rail from
Wyoming and Montana.
Much of Michigan’s biomass energy comes
from landfill gas, municipal solid waste, and
the state's almost 19 million acres of forest
land. Biomass provided fuel for 35% of
Michigan's non-hydroelectric renewable net
electricity generation in 2015.
Because the weather in Michigan is cooler
than in other areas of the United States, space
heating makes up a greater portion of energy
use in homes (55%) compared to the U.S.
average (41%), while air conditioning makes
up only 1 percent of energy use, according to
EIA's Residential Energy Consumption Survey.4
For more detailed information and data on Michigan's energy portfolio visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration's webpage:
http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=MI
Figure 3. Michigan Renewable Energy Consumption Portfolio
22%
32% 28%
11%
0%
5% 2%
Michigan Energy Profile Coal
Natural Gas
Other
Nuclear Electric Power Hydroelectric Power Biomass
Other Renewables
93%
7%
Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Energy
Non-Renewable
Renewable
7%
68%
25%
Renewable Portfolio
Hydroelectric Power
Biomass
Other Renewables
Figure 1. Michigan Energy Consumption Profile
Figure 2. Renewable vs. Non Renewable Energy consumption in Michigan
3
Michigan State Policies
Policy Type NAACP Recommended Policy Standards Michigan Policy Details
Net Metering Net Metering Standards require utility companies to provide retail credit for new renewable energy produced by a consumer. Capacity Limit Recommendation: 2,000 kW (minimally), per system Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Capacity Limit: 2,855 kW (minimally)
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)
A RPS requires electric utility companies and other retail electric providers to supply a specific minimum among of customer load with electricity from eligible renewable energy sources. Recommended Standard: Minimally 25% renewable by 2025 Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory Allowable Sources: Wind, solar, geothermal, ocean/wave energy
Standard: 15% by 2021. Qualifying Technologies: Solar, Landfill Gas, Wind, Bio Mass, Existing Hydroelectric and Conduit Hydroelectric, Geothermal, Municipal Solid Waste, Tidal, Wave, CHP/Cogeneration, Coal-Fired w/CCS, Gasification Applicable Utilities: Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), Municipally Owned Utilities (MOU), Electric Cooperatives.
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS)
A EERS establish a requirement for utility companies to meet annual and cumulative energy savings targets through a portfolio of energy efficiency program. Recommended Standard: Minimally 2% annual reduction of each previous year’s retail electricity sales. Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory
Recommended Standard: 1% annual reduction of previous year retail electricity sales (MWh) through 2021 subject to Commission approval Mandatory/Voluntary: Mandatory Applicable Utilities: Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs)
Local Hire Provision Extra renewable energy credit multipliers for in-state installation and in-state manufactured content
Renewable energy credits for utility providing incentives to build a plant in-state
Renewable energy credit for utility that makes an investment in a plate located in-state
Quota for government assisted construction project employers to hire a percentage of workers locally
Bidding Preferences for companies that hire a percentage of their employees in-state for state-funded public works projects and service contracts
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
Provide training opportunities
Notify DBEs of state business opportunities
Set-aside funds for DBEs
4
Other Energy Policies
Distributed Generation (DG) Policies serve a
specific part of the grid, including generation
serving a specific residence or business, a
neighborhood, or a region. DG has the benefit of
reducing stress on large transmission
infrastructure by providing distribution level
power (as opposed to central generation).
Michigan offers loans, tax credits, commercial
and utility incentives, yet no rebate programs,
for the installation of DG technologies.
Michigan has not implemented legislation to
carve-out a percentage of their generation for
distributed generation (DG). As a result,
Michigan state's standard does include a carve-
out, an interim targets, does not support the
development of multiple renewable energy
resources and does not have policy that would
apply to other types of utilities besides investor-
owned utilities. 5
Energy Efficiency Policies- Besides Efficiency
Energy Resources Standards, energy efficiency
policies include, residential building energy
codes, commercials building energy codes, lead
by example program, decoupling, combined
heat and power and low-income energy
efficiency program.
Financing and Other Energy Incentive Policies-
The basis of the Financing and Other Energy
Incentive Policies are Combined Heat and Power
Incentives, Solar Incentives, Distributed
Generation Incentives, Third-Party Financing,
On-bill Financing/On-bill Repayment,
Commercial Property, A clean Energy, Green
residential Property Clean Energy and Energy
Savings Performance.
Emissions, Infrastructure, Grid, and Rate
Policies- The basis of emission, infrastructure,
grid, and rate policies are grid moderation plan,
smart meter deployment, customer data access,
energy storage standard, state energy/climate
emission standard/new utility business model
proceedings.
Transportation Policies- The basis of many
transportation policies include, advanced
vehicle incentive, commercial natural gas fueling
incentives, vehicle charging infrastructure
incentives, advanced vehicle charging rates.
Just Transition from Coal to
Energy Efficiency and Clean
Energy The "Just Transition Frame" This transition
includes energy, creating a carbon-neutral
economy, communications, manufacturing,
transportation, health care, waste management,
and more. It is also a responsible call for
change. Individuals and Workers should not be
bearing the burden of the environmental costs
economically and by way of their health.
Environmental justice communities are already
paying with their health, and then they lose
their jobs. Just transition ensures a humane and
civilized approach. As reported by the Coal
Blooded Action Toolkit, Carbon dioxide, or CO2,
is a major cause of global warming. 6Pertinent to
this discussion, coal is the world’s most carbon-
intensive fuel, which means that coal power
plants produce more CO2 per unit of energy
than any other energy source.7
Approximately two million Americans live within
three miles of one of these 12 plants and the
average per capita income of these nearby
residents is $14,626 (compared with the U.S.
average of $21,587). Approximately 76 percent
of these nearby residents are people of color.
As the table and accompanying map in
Figure 3 above shows, five states of the Midwest
– Illinois, Michigan, Michigan, Wisconsin and
Ohio - are home to 32% of the failing coal-fired
power plants in the U.S. In addition, 8 of the
12 worst offending coal plants are located in
communities.
5
In 2015, the broadest measure of labor
underutilization, designated U-6 (which includes
the unemployed, workers employed part time
for economic reasons, and those marginally
attached to the labor force), was 11.4 percent in
Michigan, significantly higher than the 10.4-
percent rate for the nation, the U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today.
DTE Energy, the owner of Detroit’s River Rouge
Power Plant, the seventh-worst EJ Offender in
the country, and earned $4.99 billion in
operating revenues from their electric utility
operations in 2010.8
In addition to generating large corporate
operating revenues and profits, the operation of
older dirty coal plants is a boon to corporate
executives with decision-making responsibilities.
The CEOs of these companies are compensated
at extremely high rates, creating a strong self-
interest to maintain the status quo. The
average CEO compensation for these companies
in 2010 was $9,782,889 while the average
worker in these companies made $33,840. On
average the CEOs at these companies were
compensated at 289 times the rate of
compensation for their average U.S.
employee.9
The CEO of Michigan’s largest electric utility
publically reiterated that his company is
still planning to retire eight of its nine remaining
coal plants by 2030 — whether or not Trump
tries to repeal President Obama’s climate
policies:
All of those retirements are going to
happen regardless of what Trump may
or may not do with the Clean Power
Plan. DTE Energy’s Gerry
Anderson told MLive.com’s Emily
Lawler.10
Photo credit: Moms Clean Air Force
VOICES FROM AFFECTED
COMMUNITIES
“We’re in front of a power plant owned by DTE
while conducting the interview. The plant is
located right in the middle of the community.
About a block and a half down [from the plant],
you can see actual homes where there’s a full
community of people living in this environment.
This is a park that we’re standing in. In the park
you’ll see children playing and there’s actually
the Rouge River which comes through here and
we have a number of people who are fishing in
this area. This is a mixed community but mostly
minorities you’ll find a lot of Latinos, a lot of
African-Americans in this area. And I believe
less than a block or so away is an elementary
school. And so, this area is very critical when it
comes to environmental issues
~Yvonne White, River Rouge, MI
6
Access to energy is not a luxury, it's a necessity.
With exposure to both extreme heat and
extreme cold, folks should not be forced to
choose between paying for medications or their
energy bill. Public officials have implemented
some policies that protect consumers from the
life-threatening practice of utility disconnection
(As outlined to the left). However, energy justice
advocates must continue to hold utility
companies and regulators accountable to
human rights and basic but life-saving
protections.
In Michigan, a state ravaged by the post-
industrial economic downturn, from January to
September 2013, DTE Energy--a utility company
formerly known as Detroit Edison--reported
169,407 shut-offs, while another utility
company, Consumers Energy (CMS), reported
118,203 shutoffs. Disconnections in Michigan
have increased dramatically since the crash of
2008, with DTE completing two and half times
as many shutoffs in 2011 than in 2007.11
Utility Disconnection Policies
Notice
Notice must be provided by phone or mailing. Phone notice must be attempted two times at least one day before the scheduled disconnection. Mailed notice must be sent at least five days before the scheduled disconnection.
Date Based Protection
Yes. November 1–March 31. No disconnections for customers 65 years or older. No disconnections for eligible low-income customers with entry into a payment plan where customer makes monthly payments equal to 7% of the annual bill.
Temperature Based Protection
None.
Payment Plan Yes. Special rate of payment available for low-income customers during the winter protection period.
Reconnection Fee Yes. No reconnection fee for customers 65 years or older during the winter protection period.
Disconnection Limitations
Disconnections 8:00am–4:00pm. No disconnections on a day before a day when the utility is unavailable for reconnections. No Friday disconnections for payment plan defaults during the winter protection period.
Other Protections
Postponement of disconnection for not more than twenty-one days with medical certification. No disconnections for eligible military customers for ninety days.
Utility shut-offs have a disproportionate impact on low-income and African American communities. Check out the NAACP report, “Lights Out in the Cold” for more information. More disconnection policy details are available at the
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program webpage:
https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/Disconnect/disconnect.htm
Action steps: Meet with the Public Utilities
Commission or your local utility company to advocate
for the adoption of the following:
Temperature based protections
Restriction on reconnection and
disconnection fees
Expanded protection for vulnerable
populations
7
Hot Topics, Issues and
Developments Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan to shut
down in 2018. The decision in contingent on
approval by the Michigan Public Service
Commission. The closure will save $172 million
over the next four years. The Palisades Nuclear
Generating Station is a nuclear power plant
located on Lake Michigan, in Van Buren County's
Covert Township, Michigan, on a 432-acre site 5
miles south of South Haven, Michigan, USA.
The CEO of Michigan’s largest electric utility
says the company is committed to phasing out
its coal-fired plants “regardless of what Trump
may or may not do with the Clean Power Plan.”
Michigan has some success stories. The Snyder’s
administration as state lawmakers craft
sweeping energy policy reform. The
administration has been proactive in modeling
the state’s electric-generation future in the
context of the Clean Power Plan .
Another major issue has been Michigan's
renewable energy standard. The current
standard, 10%, has been met by the state's two
major electric utilities, and the legislation was
initially intending to replace those mandates
with goals. But the amended bills introduced
Thursday, November 10, 2016 would set a new
renewable energy mandate of 15% by 2021,
with an interim goal of 12.5% by 2019. The
legislation also sets a statewide goal of
obtaining 35 percent of energy resources from
renewable sources or energy waste reduction
measures.
Governor Snyder is creating an Environmental
Justice Working Group within the Governor's
Office. Many Michigan organizations have signed
to be a part. A letter has been drafted to express
the desire to appoint Michigan Environmental
Justice community members and to extend the
deadline to ensure there is community
representation and took into the Illinois
Environmental Justice Commission as a model.
DEVELOPING THE BLACK-
GREEN PIPELINE African Americans are inadequately represented
in the clean energy sector. It is the goal of the
NAACP Black-Green Pipeline Initiative that
African Americans will have increased
representation across all sectors of the clean
energy economy. The Black-Green Pipeline
Initiative promotes the equitable inclusion of
communities of color into the green economy in
order to address unemployment in our
communities and to increase the voices and
influence of our communities in the green
economy.
Michigan defines green jobs as jobs directly
involved in generating or supporting a firm’s
green-related products or services. The state’s
green economy is defined as being comprised of
industries that provide products or services in
five areas:
1. Agriculture and natural resource
conservation;
2. Clean transportation and fuels;
3. Increased energy efficiency;
4. Pollution prevention or environmental
cleanup; and
5. Renewable energy production.12
To subscribe to the Black-Green Pipeline
Initiative Weekly Digest send a blank email to:
Palisades nuclear plant in Covert, MI Photo Credit: Michigan Radio
8
The Green Labor Market and
Communities of Color Given that communities of color have the most
to lose with the disproportionate impact of
climate change, correspondingly those
communities should have the most to gain from
the green economy to balance the effect,
decrease economically based vulnerability, ad
increase resilience. By advancing and improving
legislation related to green jobs and availability
of contracts and also on implementation by
facilitating access to programs that ensure that
African Americans are getting green contracts
and green jobs. Also this will ensure the
development of communities of colors own
definition of green jobs including setting
standards of equity and safety.
Although racial diversity has increased in other
fields over the past several decades, racial
diversity in environmental organizations and
agencies has stagnated, with only about 14
percent of the workforce consisting of people of
color. This includes a number of energy-focused
organizations. Environmental organizations are
not adequately reaching out to organizations
representing communities of color for
recruitment.13
The Green Energy Economy would create jobs in
green renewable generation
installation, weatherization/energy efficiency,
thermal energy auditing, insulation, and more.
With more than 9.6 percent of African
Americans still unemployed it is time to take
action and create a Green Collar
evolution which provides opportunities for all to
access living wages and pathways to self-
determination and economic wellbeing.
Opportunities in Energy The 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report
(USEER) finds that the traditional and energy
efficiency sectors today employ approximately
6.4 million Americans. These sectors increased
in 2016 by just under 5 percent, adding over
300,000 net new jobs, roughly 14 percent of all
those created in the country. The 2017 USEER
analyzes four sectors of the U.S. economy:
• Electric Power Generation and Fuels • Transmission, Distribution and Storage • Energy Efficiency • Motor Vehicles
The first two of those sectors make up the
traditional energy sector. The Report provides a
quantitative lens with which to evaluate the
employment impact of new energy
technologies, shifting fuels deployment, and
evolving transmission and distribution systems:
Electric power generation and fuels technologies
directly employ more than 1.9 million workers.
In 2016, 55 percent, or 1.1 million, of these
employees worked in traditional coal, oil, and
gas, while almost 800,000 workers were
employed in low carbon emission
Generation technologies, including renewable,
nuclear, and advanced/low emission natural gas.
Just under 374,000 individuals work, in whole or
in part, for solar firms, with more than 260,000
of those employees spending the majority of
their time on solar. There are an additional
102,000 workers employed at wind firms across,
the nation. The solar workforce increased by
Unemployment In 2016 the gap between the U.S. unemployment
rate and the rate for African Americans was 4.3
percentage points. In Michigan, however, the
unemployment rate in 2016 for African Americans
was actually 6.6 percentage points greater the
state average.
2016 National Unemployment Rate: 5.3%
2016 Michigan Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
2016 National African American Unemployment
Rate: 9.6%
2016 Michigan African American Unemployment
Rate: 11.6%
Figure 2. Employment by Major Technology
9
25% in 2016, while wind employment
increased by 32%.14
Michigan has an average concentration of
energy employment, with 85,920 Traditional
Energy workers statewide. 20,467 of these
workers are in the Fuels sector, 37,702 work in
Transmission, Wholesale Distribution, and
Storage, and 27,751 workers are employed in
Electric Power Generation. 2.6% of the
Traditional Energy jobs across the U.S. are
located in Michigan. The traditional energy
sector in Michigan is 2.1% of total state
employment (compared to 2.4% of national
employment).
Michigan boasts 109,067 total green jobs—
both direct and support positions—among
private sector employers. There are 96,767
direct green jobs and 12,300 support green jobs.
This is big news, but it also shows the potential
for growth of the green economy. Michigan’s
overall private sector employment is 3.2 million;
green jobs are currently 3 percent of that
total.15
Michigan green jobs are most common in these
specific industries:
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (25,780 jobs);
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (22,178 jobs);
Specialty Trade Contractors (9,825 jobs); and
Construction of Buildings (3,571 jobs).
Wind turbines near the town of Pigeon in Huron County, Michigan.
Dennis Pennington, Michigan State University Extension Source:
Creative Commons
Green Workforce Development Resources:
Advantage Oakland
https://www.oakgov.com/advantageoakland/residents/
Pages/workMIWorks.aspx
MI Green Thumb- The three counties comprising the
Thumb Area all have a workforce available to meet your
employment needs, along with education facilities and
training programs responsive to training personnel on
all level. http://www.migreenthumb.org/workforce/
EcoWorks- EcoWorks previously the WARM Training
Center promotes the development of resource efficient,
affordable, healthy homes and communities through
education, training and technical assistance.
http://www.ecoworksdetroit.org/
Green Michigan- Green Michigan is have big and small
projects to around business, organization or a non-
profit looking to implement a green initiative. They are
here to help develop plans of action to achieve goals.
http://www.greenmichigan.org/
The Greening of Detroit- is an online mirror of the
Metro-Detroit area with a perspective on Sustainability,
Reduction of Consumption, Ecology, Education and
Natural Wellness. https://www.greeningdetroit.com
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice-
Empower individuals, communities, and community
organizations in Southeast Michigan to educate,
advocate and organize for clean, healthier communities
and environments.
Detroit Area Green Sector Skills Alliance (GSSA)- is
focus on helping green related businesses grow and
creating job opportunities and career pathways for
workers. http://www.detroitregionalworkforcefund.org
Greening For All- Dedicated to improving the lives of all
Americans through a clean energy economy.
www.greenforall.org
Techtown- To build the best business incubator in the
world. http://techtowndetroit.org/
Bamboo Detroit- Bamboo build flexible work spaces &
inclusive community designed to help you grow.
http://bamboodetroit.com/
The GreenDoor initiative- works to ensure that every
persons environmentally literature, and capable of
practicing and promoting sustainability as lifestyle.
http://greendoorinitiative.org
10
TAKE ACTION Michigan NAACP leaders released the Michigan Just Energy Policies Report, which among other things evaluates the state of
Michigan's key clean energy policies and advocates for the focal policies outlined in this snapshot. Michigan NAACP branches
have been environmental justice leaders in their respective communities, engaging with local coalition of likeminded advocates
and championing the NAACP energy justice platform. Michigan residents have the opportunity to strengthen its partnerships
with other governmental agencies, such as other Federal agencies and State, Tribal, or local governments, in order to have
effective and sustainable Social Change in regards to Environmental Justice, specifically Energy Justice within the state of
Michigan. Listed below are avenues for continued engagement: Listed below are avenues for continued engagement:
Host a Bridging the Gap: Connecting Black Communities to the Green Economy Roundtable
•The NAACP ECJ Program is committed to advancing a meaningful dialogue and concerted action on engagement of communities of color in the green economy.
•To start taking action, organize a multi-stakeholder roundtable with socially responsible energy business leaders, historically black colleges and universities, environmental groups, civil rights organizations, labor unions, and others to discuss developing and implementing a strategy to ensure that policies/laws/regulation, research initiatives, community level practices, corporate social responsibility measures, etc. are in place to ensure greater engagement of communities of color in the green economy.
Implement a demonstration project such as a community solar garden or rooftop solar project
•Interested in taking a direct role in implementing clean energy practices in your community? Install rooftop solar or community solar.
•There are several rebates and incentives available to Nevadans interested in pursuing renewable energy projects. Visit energy.gov for a list of renewable energy incentive program available on the state and federal levels.
•You can also check out funding opportunities offered through the Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, which aims to support solar energy adoption by making solar energy accessible to all Americans.
Launch a Just Energy Policies Campaign
•Identify one or more of the focal policies outlined in this snapshot and documented more extensively in the Just Energy Policies to champion.
•Build a coalition with likeminded energy justice advocates and other local and state allies to build power and momentum.
•Host a town-hall to educate the community about the policy and get input from members on their needs, priorities, and perspectives.
•Launch an intential campaign to advocating that Alaska adopts the recommended policy standard.
•Set up lobby trainings and coordinate a lobby-day with elected officials.
Make public the NAACP energy justice platform and engage the public through media
•Develop and place an op-ed by NAACP Unit President or ECJ Chair in a local newspaper
•Participate in a radio interview, TV interview, podcast
•Be quoted in a local newspaper
•Post an article or blog to an online platform
11
CLOSING Michigan residents have the opportunity to
strengthen its partnerships with other
governmental agencies and other organizations,
to have effective and sustainable social change
in regards to Environmental Justice, specifically
Energy Justice within the state of Michigan.
Michigan residents of color are
disproportionately exposed to toxins in their
environment, as well as neglected and
discriminated. Building capacity in
disproportionately burdened communities, and
promoting collaborative problem-solving for
issues involving environmental justice is critical
for the future of communities of color in the
state. Michigan has the potential to be a clean
energy leader in the U.S., but first the state
must address a number of key issues.
Communities of color in Michigan face large
quantities of air pollution, high energy rates,
disproportionate toxic exposures, as well as
continued system-wide neglect and
discrimination.
Embracing a transition to clean, renewable
energy sources will not only provide significant
environmental and health benefits for the
people of Michigan, but will also diversify and
strengthen the state's economy. While the state
has significant renewable energy potential, state
policies have not incentivized the growth of
renewable energy. NAACP just energy leaders
should advocate on behalf of a strong
Renewable Portfolio Standard, Energy Efficiency
Resource Standard, Net Metering standards,
Local Hire Provisions, and Minority Business
Enterprise Programs. Our communities have
the potential to be key leaders facilitating a just
transition to clean, renewable, locally owned
and controlled energy.
Michigan Green Organizations
Environmental Law & Policy Center- Works to
promote Clean Energy, Sound Transportation,
Wild and Natural Places & Eco-Business Solutions.
RE-AMP-Michigan Efficiency Alliance-Michigan
Low-Income Working Group- One goal of this
working group is and was to figure out how to
create incentives for EE investments in low-
income communities. Coordinating coalitions
towards this end has been successful in other
states.
Soulardarity- Soulardarity building a brighter
future in Highland Park with Education,
organizing, and people-powered clean energy.
East Michigan Environmental Action Council-
Empowering the Detroit community to protect,
preserve and value the land, air and water.
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council-
Serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties by
translating environmental concerns into action.
Northern Michigan Environmental Action
Council-Preserving the National Environment
through Citizen Action and Education.
West Michigan Environmental Action Council-
recognizes that it is essential for the organization
to operate within the values of diversity,
inclusiveness, and racial equity as part of our
strategy to achieve our vision and mission.
The Ecology Center -Working for a safe and
healthy environment where people live, work,
and play.
Michigan Environmental Council - A coalition of
more than 70 organizations
The Sierra Club, The Michigan Chapter-the
Michigan Chapter has organized the bold action
of citizens working together to protect and
restore our Great Lakes state’s health and
heritage
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice-
DWEJ champions local and national collaboration
to advance environmental justice and sustainable
redevelopment. We foster clean, healthy and safe
communities through innovative policy, education
and workforce initiatives.
JULY 2017 Created by the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215 (410) 580-5777 [email protected] www.naacp.org
Contributing Authors: Marnese Jackson, Regional Environmental and Climate Justice Fellow, Regions III and IV, NAACP Editor: Marcus Franklin, Program Specialist, Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP
1 https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=IN
2 http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy/energyoverview/
3 http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=WV#tabs-2
4 Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=MI
5http://spotforcleanenergy.org/state/michigan/distributed-generation-incentives/
6 Russell, Randy (16 May 2007). Gases". University Windows to the Universe. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
7 U.S. EIA, :Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report
8 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. DTE Energy Company 2010 From 10-K. Accessed Nov. 2011.
http://www.sec.gov/ Archives/edgar/data/96340/000095012311015771/k49859e10vk.htm. 9 AFL-CIL CEO Pay Database, Accessed November 2011 http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/eou/indus
10 http://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2016/11/28/13763728/trump-coal-industry-michigan
12
Waclawek, Richard. Michigan Green Jobs Report (2009). Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth http://www.michigan.gov/documents/nwlb/GJC_GreenReport_Print_277833_7.pdf 13
Taylor, Dorceta E. "The state of diversity in environmental organizations: Mainstream NGOs, foundations & government agencies." Green 2.0 Working Group (2014). 14
The U.S. Energy Employment Report (2017) U.S. Energy Information Administration, November 2016 Monthly
Energy Review. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/01/f34/us_energy_jobs_2017_final.pdf 15
Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, Current Employment Statistics program. https://www.bls.gov/