In Detroit, Senator Stabenow Releases Report on the Impact of Climate Crisis in Michigan

DETROIT – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today released a report on the impact of the climate crisis on Michigan at a press conference with stakeholders in Detroit. Speakers discussed the impact of the climate crisis on Michigan and how clean energy can be part of the solution.

“Science is clear. The climate crisis is already impacting Michigan’s public health, our Great Lakes, agriculture and our economy,” said Senator Stabenow. “While there is no silver bullet to address this crisis, Michigan is poised to lead the way in finding solutions. Our state’s investments in renewable and zero emission electricity, energy efficiency and new vehicle technologies are already creating good-paying jobs, lowering the cost of energy and reducing the impact of the climate crisis.”

Senator Stabenow’s new report titled “The Climate Crisis and Michigan” documents scientific research on the impact of climate change in Michigan. The impact on our Great Lakes can be seen in extreme water levels in coastal communities, unprecedented algal blooms in our lakes, and extreme rain overwhelming local infrastructure and flooding homes. The impact on public health includes more smog hurting children and adults with asthma and greater exposure to disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks.

The report outlines how Michigan is uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis through clean energy vehicles and infrastructure, renewable and zero emission electricity, and improved energy efficiency. Michigan currently ranks first in the Midwest for clean energy jobs and fifth in the country, and Metro Detroit had the third most clean energy patents of major metropolitan areas in the country.

Already, Michigan has more jobs in advanced transportation than any other state in the country, and 25,000 of these jobs are associated with electric and hybrid vehicles. The widespread adoption of electric and fuel-cell vehicles, and continued improvements to internal-combustion engines, can significantly reduce carbon emissions as well as local air pollution.

Michigan is transitioning towards a cleaner energy portfolio and numerous cities have committed to achieving as much as 100% renewable energy generation in the coming decades. There are more than 11,400 renewable energy jobs in Michigan, including more than 10,000 focused on the manufacturing and installation of wind turbines and solar panels.

“As a pioneer in sustainable chemistry in Michigan, Resinate Materials Group is committed to ensuring a sustainable future by developing innovative solutions to address climate change as well as the growing problem of plastic,” said Rick Tabor, Chief Technology Officer of Resinate. “We encourage and support Senator Stabenow as she works with her colleagues to enact legislation that addresses climate change in our state and for our planet. We hope that Congress will include provisions to encourage recycling, which is a powerful method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

"We thank Senator Stabenow for leading on this discussion and recognizing the importance of supporting innovation that will drive cleaner, smarter, better solutions for mobility and energy,” said Jim Saber, President & CEO of NextEnergy. “Through continued investment and strong public/private partnerships we believe Michigan can become a national leader in developing and demonstrating the technologies that will create a more livable world for all citizens."

“Sustainable, efficient energy is a key solution to addressing climate change,” said Carla Walker-Miller, CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Services. “Walker-Miller Energy Services is proud to help lead this effort in Michigan and to stand with Senator Stabenow on this important issue.”