Governor Granholm Draws the line on Coal

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Governor Granholm Raises bar for Coal Plants

Return to Michigan and Coal

Michigan Will Lead the Green Industrial Revolution

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm is gambling that renewable energy technologies will provide the Green Jobs that will lead Michigan out of a deep economic quagmire.[1]

The following article was published in The Huffington Post, a leading internet blog.

The battle against global climate change was kicked into a new gear this month, and Michigan is leading the charge.

That's right: Michigan.

The so-called "rust belt" state that has been putting cars, trucks, and SUV's on the road for over 100 years is putting the pedal to the metal on making the U.S. less reliant on fossil fuels.

As Governor of the state that has been ground zero for the nation's economic crisis, I was proud to stand with leaders of the UAW and ten automakers as President Obama announced a truly historic, aggressive national agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.

Out with the old gas guzzlers of the past. Out with the old thinking of the past. Out with the old politics of the past. Out with the old rust belt.

May was the first month of the New: new technology, new ideas, and a new era of cooperation that will purposefully drive Michigan and America into the new clean-energy future.

Michigan's Big Three automakers, the UAW, Michigan's world class engineers -- they are working together to reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than ever before in this country's history. It's not Silicon Valley. It's not Route 128. It's Motown that is making a more significant impact on global climate change than any other place in America.

In addition to the new fuel efficiency standards, May was also the month that five innovative new Michigan companies submitted their applications to the Department of Energy to receive federal funding to design and build the advanced batteries that will power the electric vehicle of the future. Their applications are backed by $700 million in state incentives.

In Michigan, we're not only redesigning the current generation of vehicles to be more fuel efficient, but as the world's epicenter for automotive research and design, we're literally redesigning the entire notion of the automobile. The Chevy Volt will be the first ever mass produced car designed around a lithium ion battery pack rather than an internal combustion engine. Ford is preparing for the introduction of a full line of new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, and just announced their first fully electric vehicle will be made at an efficient Michigan factory. Chrysler is also electrifying its product lines, with announcements to come. The key challenge we need to overcome to make the transition to an electric vehicle fleet is perfecting the battery. To meet that challenge, world class companies like A123 Systems, Johnson-Controls-Saft, KD Advanced Battery Group, LG Chem, and Sakti3 are partnering with Michigan's Big 3 automakers and Michigan's Dow Chemical to put the world's best battery engineers to the work on solutions.

As the Arsenal of Democracy during World War II, Michigan was called upon in a time of crisis to transition our auto manufacturing base to tanks and B-1 bombers. Today, Michigan will use our manufacturing know-how and infrastructure to make green energy products -- fuel efficient cars, advanced batteries for electric cars, wind turbines, solar panels, smart grid technology, carbon-fiber materials, energy efficient building materials, and more. We have reinvented ourselves before, and we will do it again. Hard work is in our DNA, and no state is hungrier than Michigan.

Some doubters on this website have advocated "pulling the plug on Detroit." Instead, I invite you to plug in to the power of American ingenuity and American transformation. Plug in the new electric car, made in America, by your neighbors in communities across the country. In Michigan, we're plugging in to a new paradigm. We are reimagining and remaking the American automobile, the American industrial sector, and our nation's energy future. Watch -- Michigan will lead a green industrial revolution. I invite you to watch us, encourage us, and join us.

And the doubters?

I encourage them to just try and keep up.

Governor Jennifer Granholm used her 2009 State of the State Address[2] to

announce significant [3] hurdles to new coal plant development, and begin a [4] concerted push[5] for alternative energy development[6] in Michigan.[7]

"I will ask the Legislature to make Michigan the first state in the nation to let every homeowner, every business, become a renewable energy entrepreneur who can make money by installing solar panels or wind systems on their home or business and selling that renewable energy back to the power company."[8] The Governor also set a goal to reduce the production of electricity from fossil fuels, coal and gas, by 45 percent by 2020, and pledged to form a Michigan Energy Corp to weatherize homes and schools, a program to help homeowners take on efficiency programs with no money down,[9] and a deepened commitment to renewable energy and manufacturing.[10]

Coal Supporters quickly responded.

Michigan Chamber of Commerce' Environmental Policy Director Doug Roberts Jr. said G ranholm's directive ran counter to a bipartisan energy package lawmakers approved and the governor signed in 2008.[11]

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox issued an opinion that the Governor's executive order violated the state's separation of powers.

"Governors can sign bills into law, but they cannot write them," he said in a statement. "That is the Legislature's job."

Cox said that his opinion was legally binding on the Governor and the state's Department of Environmental Quality, which plays an important role in licensing new electrical generatiing plants.

A spokesperson for the Governor stated that the Governor disagrees with Cox's opinion and will seek a clarification from the US Environmental Protection Agency.[12]
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce applauded Cox's opinion.[13] Meanwhile, environmentalists [14]pointed out that Cox has received 88,000 dollars in donations from energy companies, including $40,000 from DTE, and a total of $22,500. from Consumer's Energy.

Nationally, analysts predict that this is just one shot in a long battle.[15]

Mike Cox.jpg
Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox


Late in March, 2009, Seventy-two Michigan lawmakers, including 34 Democrats, are asking Gov. Jennifer Granholm to reconsider an order slowing down the approval of proposed coal-fired electric plants. [16] The letter Called the governor’s coal directive a “moratorium” on new coal plants, and asked her to withdraw it, warning that it would have serious economic consequences.[17]

Report Finds 100,000 Green Jobs in Michigan

According to a new report,[18] issued at the Governor's Green Today, Jobs Tomorrowconference in May, Michigan has now more than 100,000 green jobs and plenty of room for more. The report notes that future jobs growth in Michigan "rests overwhelmingly with the clean energy, green collar economy". Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth Deputy Director Andy Levin released the report, flanked by White House Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Van Jones.

  1. ↑ Green Gamble"Associated Press, June 20, 2009"
  2. ↑ A February Cold Snap in Michigan: Attorney General Prevents Governor from Upholding the Law"Henry Henderson, The Huffington Post, March 5, 2009"
  3. ↑ "Michigan Governor wants Utilities to Rethink Coal" Associated Press, February 4, 2009
  4. ↑ "Governor says no to coal, pushes green power""Detroit News, February 4, 2009"
  5. ↑ Better Economic Times depend on Green Energy"Chris Christoff, Detroit Free Press, February 5, 2009"
  6. ↑ Granholm's Grand Plan: Michigan's new Clean Energy Vision"Henry Henderson, Switchboard,from NRDC, February 5, 2009"
  7. ↑ http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-36898-208125--,00.html Executive Directive No. 2009 - 2]"Governor Jennifer Granholm, February 3, 2009"
  8. ↑ Granholm's State of the State: Good news on Michigan, jobs but also cuts "Kathy Barks Hoffman, The Associated Press, February 3, 2009"
  9. ↑ Granholm's Grand Plan: Michigan's new Clean Energy Vision"Henry Henderson, Switchboard,from NRDC, February 5, 2009"
  10. ↑ Granholm's State of the State: Good news on Michigan, jobs but also cuts "Kathy Barks Hoffman, The Associated Press, February 3, 2009"
  11. ↑ Cox: Granholm went too far with coal plants order"John Flesher, Associated Press, February 20, 2009"
  12. ↑ Cox: Granholm went too far with coal plants order"John Flesher, Associated Press, February 20, 2009"
  13. ↑ Michigan Chamber Hails AGs Opinion on Coal Plants"Chris Rizo, LegalNewsLine, February 23, 2009"
  14. ↑ [http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/the_cox_administrative_account.asp The Cox Administrative Account "527" Political Organization Filing Information]"CampaignMoney.com"
  15. ↑ Analysis:Granholm's Coal Policy Won't end Debate"David Eggert, Associated Press, February 3, 2009"
  16. ↑ Michigan lawmakers ask Granholm to reconsider coal policy "Dave Eggerts, Associated Press, March 26, 2009"
  17. ↑ Granholm Firm on Vetting Coal Rush"Glen Puit and Jim Dulzo, Michigan Land Use Institute, April 6, 2009"
  18. ↑ http://mlui.org/landwater/fullarticle.asp?fileid=17346 Report Finds 100,000 Green Jobs in Michigan]"Jim Dulzo, Michigan Land Use Institute, July 27, 2009"
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