Latest news with #MIHealthyClimateconference
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
As the White House halts climate efforts, Michigan's climate plan continues full steam ahead
Rep. Angela Witwer (D-Delta Twp.),Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phil Roos announced a $290 million expansion of the MI Clean Water Plan. | Kyle Davidson When the MI Healthy Climate conference kicked off earlier this month, anxieties around the nation's climate policy likely plagued the minds of attendees, with President Donald Trump once again pulling the United States out of the Paris climate agreement and working to dismantle efforts to combat climate change and environmental injustice. However, Michigan found itself in a similar position not so long ago, Phil Roos, the director of Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy told attendees while delivering the opening speech for the conference. When Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist took office in 2019, the U.S. was also working to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. However, Whitmer brought Michigan into the U.S. Climate Alliance, joining other states in their commitment to advancing the Paris Agreement's goals. Phil Roos, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy at the 2024 Mi Healthy Climate Conference | Kyle Davidson The Whitmer administration also assembled a council on climate solutions alongside the state's environmental justice advisory council, Roos said, as the administration began to organize actions in state government around climate and justice, eventually looking at ways to capture the economic benefits associated with a transition to clean energy. This culminated in the passage of the state 2023 clean energy package, which laid out specific goals in shifting Michigan's energy supply to clean energy resources, with the goal of 100% clean energy by 2040. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs clean energy legislation at Detroit's Eastern Market, Nov. 28, 2023 | Jon King In 2024, EGLE's efforts shifted toward implementing this plan, getting clean energy into communities that would benefit from it the most through programs like the catalyst communities initiative and the MI Justice 40 Accelerator, which provided disadvantaged communities with support in accessing federal climate funding. And it's not just the state helping to roll out and support climate action, Roos said. 'It's also a local government effort and it's nonprofits, it's for-profits, it's government, it's all of the above and that's the way it has to be to make it work,' Roos said. While the 2024 election has led to anxieties around federal funding cuts, the turbulent dynamics of federal politics has some people asking whether the state should continue to work on environmental justice and climate. 'What I wanted to say right now is we don't have any choice,' Roos said, emphasizing that the science on climate hasn't changed. More than 99% of peer-reviewed studies on climate conclude that climate change is caused by human activity, up from 97% reported in a 2013 study examining the level of consensus in scientific studies on climate change. 'The challenge that we have is as urgent and critical as it has ever been. We may have politics that have changed, but we, the people of Michigan, still need to be able to breathe clean air. We still have people in the state, we'd kind of like to lower their electric fields. We have people whose basements have flooded and might want us to continue to upgrade our infrastructure to protect from the next and the next 100 year flood,' Roos said. There are businesses looking to capitalize on Michigan's transition to renewables, Roos said, stressing that this effort can't wait. He later told the audience that just as Michigan began its healthy climate efforts without external and federal efforts, it can do so again today. Speaking with the Michigan Advance on the second day of the conference, Roos remained optimistic on the state's efforts to continue working towards the goals laid out in Whitmer's MI Healthy Climate Plan. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would stand by her climate goals amid a challenging federal landscape during the MI Healthy Climate Conference in Detroit on April 23, 2025. | Kyle Davidson While the status of federal funding for a number of climate efforts remains uncertain, Roos noted that the Healthy Climate Plan predates the $145.4 billion authorized by former President Joe Biden to combat climate change. 'We know what has to be accomplished,' Roos said. 'We know what has to be achieved in different areas of the economy, society and we know that. I mean, we went after the federal funding because it was there and it can help accelerate certain aspects of the plan, but achieving those goals isn't primarily dependent on federal funding,' Roos said. When speaking with the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on EGLE in March, Roos explained that 94% of the department's ongoing funding comes from restricted revenue sources and federal funding, meaning that they are legally obligated to spend those dollars for a set purpose. Federal funding also makes up the largest share of its budget, almost 40%, he said. Roos told the Advance that the largest amount of that money comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the form of categorical grants. The EPA delegates certain activities, like protecting the air and water, and partially covers those costs, he explained. Thus far, the department has not seen signs that those funds will be cut, Roos said, and while there are federal funds that support efforts in the MI Healthy Climate plan, those are the minority. EGLE has similarly felt confident enough to move forward with the launch of its home energy rebate program, which provides eligible households with up to $34,000 in rebates for energy efficiency upgrades to their home and appliances. The effort is supported by $211 million in federal dollars. The other positive for Michigan's climate efforts, is that the 2023 clean energy laws provide a legal standard for EGLE's efforts on renewable energy, Roos said, setting clear targets for greenhouse gas reduction, energy efficiency standards and goals for state energy regulators in evaluating electrical providers. 'Funding is great and helpful, and we can accelerate certain elements of it, and we will take it and hope to have it still on some of these areas, but we will continue to find ways to achieve those goals. We may have to take little detours around the way, but so far we're just charging forward,' Roos said. kyle
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whitmer vows to fight for healthy climate plan, while expanding home energy rebates
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would stand by her climate goals amid a challenging federal landscape during the MI Healthy Climate Conference in Detroit on April 23, 2025. | Kyle Davidson Amid a challenging federal landscape for climate action, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, speaking Wednesday at the 2025 MI Healthy Climate conference in Detroit, stood firm on the goals outlined in her climate plan, renewing her commitment to bring the state to 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. 'Last year, we had a federal government that joined us in the fight for climate action. They worked hard to protect our air and land and water, and made historic investments in our clean energy effort,' Whitmer said. 'Now we have a government that calls climate change a hoax and wants to repeal clean energy investments, slow growth and they're skirting legal processes to cut hundreds of policies that help protect our air, land and lakes from pollution, waste and dangerous chemicals,' Whitmer said before pointing to an executive order that she said targets states who have passed laws to address climate change. However, Michigan is not backing down in its climate efforts, Whitmer said, noting that Michigan is also seeing increased opportunities in clean energy jobs and electric vehicle manufacturing. 'We have an opportunity to take the lead on climate, an opportunity to continue creating good paying jobs and an opportunity to show the world what Michigan can do,' she said. As states serve as laboratories for democracy within our federal system, those states are on the frontline in the fight against climate change, Whitmer said, pledging not to abandon the goals outlined in her MI Healthy Climate plan. In that vein, Whitmer announced the launch of a statewide home energy rebate program in hopes of saving Michiganders costs on their energy bills. According to a statement from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, up to 15,000 homes will benefit from the program's rollout, as households are eligible for up to $34,000 in rebates from the program's two efforts. The first offers rebates to address the up front cost of whole-home energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air sealing and heating and cooling. Households are eligible for up to $20,000 in rebates through this program. The second will help reduce the upfront cost of energy efficient electric appliances and equipment, offering up to $840 for an electric stove or dryer; $1,750 for a heat pump water heater; $1,600 for insulation, air sealing and ventilation; $2,500 for electric wiring upgrades and $8,000 for a heat pump for heating or cooling, with households eligible for a maximum of $14,000 in rebates. Renters and homeowners interested in the program can find more information about the program and how to apply at or by dialing the CLEAResult Call Center at 855-510-7080. When a household's application is approved, they will be directed to select an program-approved contractor to conduct a home assessment with eligible rebate work to be completed by the program's contractors. For low-income households, 100% of the work is covered. The program also aims to support jobs in construction; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; energy efficiency and appliance installation. The state is encouraging contractors to sign up online to become an eligible program contractor, directing any questions to mihercontractor@ Contractors can also receive bonuses for certain projects in eligible communities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gilchrist pushes against climate denial, launches grant program to aid Michigan's climate efforts
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist pushes back on climate change denial while announcing grant funding for community efforts aimed at meeting the state's healthy climate goals during the MI Healthy Climate Conference in Detroit on April 22, 2025. | Kyle Davidson Kicking off the third annual MI Healthy Climate conference, focused on advancing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's plan to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist continued to call for climate action amid an uncertain federal landscape. While climate change denial may be at its peak within American culture, those committed to climate action must also be at the peak of their strength, Gilchrist said. 'Republicans at the federal and the state level are attacking climate action. They are committing to rolling back investments that have been made, that have been committed, that have been promised to people and communities here in the state of Michigan, to the tune of putting $14 billion of investment at risk that will raise energy prices on Michiganders,' said Gilchrist, who is a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026. However these threats emphasize the importance of climate efforts at the state and community level, Gilchrist said. Pulling from his past as a basketball player, Gilchrist said that sometimes the best defense is a good offense, framing the fight against climate change as an opportunity for change, growth, innovation and leadership. As Michigan leads the nation in clean energy job growth, and more clean energy adjacent businesses are growing in the state than ever before, Gilchrist pointed to these changes as an opportunity for Michigan to do more. As part of that effort Gilchrist announced the MI Healthy Climate Challenge, offering several millions of dollars in grants to projects that will help the state meet its goal of carbon neutrality. The program will include multiple competitions through 2026, with the first competition, Solar for Savings, offering $8.875 million in grants for residential and community solar pilot projects and upgrades to equipment and energy storage. The challenge is open and will accept entries through 5 p.m. on July 30, 2025. Applications are available at Pilot programs supported by the competition are intended to lower energy costs, improve resiliency against power outages and create the groundwork for the MI Solar For All program, a $156 million federally-funded initiative to provide low-income communities and households access to solar energy. According to a statement from the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy, which is sponsoring the conference, future competitions will focus on improving access to loans for environmental efforts, helping communities and partners leverage federal tax credits and unlocking large-scale financing for high-impact climate projects. Though eligibility will vary, the challenge aims to include a wide range of participants such as local governments, community lenders, schools, faith organizations, nonprofits and solar providers. During last year's MI Healthy Climate Conference, Gilchrist announced the Michigan Climate Justice Challenge, offering $11 million in grant and technical assistance to help Michigan communities in competing for federal funding. The state also announced a mobility challenge aimed at improving access to Michigan's national parks through innovations in small-scale electric shuttles and automated driving systems, multimodal electric charging hubs and micro-mobility like scooters and e-bikes. 'All that is to say, we've laid a foundation… We've tested some things out,' Gilchrist said. 'Now that we know when something works a little bit, we have to scale it up quickly so it can work a lot in every group, in more markets in more communities, in more circumstances,' Gilchrist said, emphasizing the importance of inviting people from all of Michigan's communities to participate in efforts to combat climate change and build up the state's clean energy and mobility economy. 'We cannot get where we need to go if we don't bring everybody along with us,' Gilchrist said, telling attendees that by building a better connected, more inspired group, the state can begin to realize the clean energy and climate future it deserves.
