Michigan LCV Newsletter - Summer 2009

8/14/2019 Michigan LCV Newsletter - Summer 2009

1/8

Tere is no place like Michigan in the summer. Perhaps

we appreciate it more because we endure the bitter cold

in February or the surprise snowall in April. Maybe it is

the anticipation o the explosion o beautiul colors that

will arrive with Autumn. Whatever the case may be,anyone who grew up in this great State or calls it home

can agree: there really is no place like Michigan in the

summer.

As a child, I remember sprinting out o the halls

o my grade school in early June, my head lled with

dreams o Lake Michigan. My amily would pack up

the car in Grand Rapids and meet our riends the next

morning at Holland State Park to cook breakast on

the grill and swim in 55 degree water. Later in the

summer, we would head up US-131 aiming or the

Leelanau Peninsula to catch the Mishe-Mokwa Ferry

to South Manitou Island. One summer we even traced

my Grandathers Finland-based roots through the

majestic Upper Peninsula, rom St. Ignace west to the

Keeweenaw Peninsula.

Everyone has stories like these. Tey are the stories o

Michigan. Tey are the reason we live here, work here,

and stay here. Tese stories, and the amazing natural

resources that provide the setting, are also one o the

bright spots in the story that will become Michigans

road to economic recovery.

In years past, manuacturing, agriculture and tour-

ism (including recreation) were Michigans top income-

producing industries. With the recent unortunate

decline o our automotive industry, we are now more

dependant than ever on tourism and recreation to drive

Michigans economy.

According to a 2009 Michigan State University pub

licationMichigan Tourism, Past Perormance and Future

Expectations, the tourism and recreation economy in

Michigan employs nearly 200,000 people, generates

nearly $1 billion in taxes, and results in approximately$18 billion spent in Michigan on travel every year.

In these tough times, we cannot aord a decline in

tourism and recreation.

So while Michigan LCV is working hard everyday

to protect and conserve our natural resources to ensure

that uture generations will be able to tell their own

stories o summer lie in Michigan, every Michigander

should take time to explore Michiganrom Lake

Erie to Lake Superiorand support the Michigan

economy! n

Summer in Full SwingBY BILL KIRK

IN

THIS

ISSUE

nn Arbor Oce3 W. Liberty St., Ste 300

nn Arbor, MI 48104ain: 734.222.9650x: 734.222.9651

rand Rapids Oce0 Monroe Center NW, Ste 200rand Rapids, MI 49503

ain: 616.459.6459x: 616.459.6469

AM BIERzYNSKIrector o [email protected]

REMY CAVERLYnline Communications [email protected]

RRY DUGGANeputy DirectorDevelopment [email protected]

LL KIRKommunications [email protected]

ARK NEISLERobal Climate Change [email protected]

BBY RUBLEYlicy [email protected]

SA WOzNIAKecutive [email protected]

ANE IVEYommunications Intern

elementsTURNING ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES INTO COMMUNITY PRIOR ITIES | SUMMER 200 9

A publication o the Michigan League o Conservation Voters

Green BusinessSpotlight(back cover)

Te HeatIs On!(page 4)

Teres No PlaceLike Home

(page 3)

oxic oys(page 6)

Michigans Three LargestIncome-Producing Industries

Source: 6/19/09 State o Michigan

AgricultureTourism

Manuacturing


2/8

JOIN US!

Enjoying and Protecting Michigan

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Summer truly is a special time in Michigan. As

a mother o two beautiul sons, I look orward

every year to the time we have together in thesummer to enjoy our parks, orests, rivers,

streams and, o course, the Great Lakes.

For my amily, summer is a time to re-

charge, relax, and appreciate. We spend time

in the wilderness together taking ull advantage o the gits given by

our wonderul natural resources. For me, personally, summer is also

a reminder o the enormous responsibility that I share with all Mich-

iganders: the duty to conserve and protect these amazing places.

As wonderul and relaxing as Michigan is in the summertime,

I am also more aware than ever o our challenges: beach closings

around the state, mercury advisories or our sh, and battles to

protect natural areas, like the Saugatuck Dunes and Jean-Klock park

in Benton Harbor.

So while my kids may be on summer break, I am not, and

neither is Michigan LCV. We are constantly working to preserve

and protect this wonderul state o ours, which is directly linked to

kickstarting our economy. Ater all, tourism/recreation is the third

largest industry in Michigan, and the success o that industry is

impossible without clean air, healthy orests, beautiul beaches, and

clean water.

But our work does not stop at the Michigan border! Recently,

Michigan LCV joined orces with organizations across the country

to help pass the American Clean Energy & Security Act (ACES)the most historic environmental bill o our lietime through the

U.S. House o Representatives. ACES represents Americas rst

comprehensive attempt to build a new, clean energy economy. It will

create millions o jobs, reduce our dangerous dependence on oil, and

mitigate the threat o global warming.While we are extremely happy to have won this hard ought

battle, we cannot become complacent with our victory. Not only

do we have work to do in the U.S. Senate to ensure its passage

there, but we must let the ACES legislation serve as an inspiration

and a spring board or spawning similar legislative victories here in

Michigan. A challenge no doubt, but one that Michigan LCV is up

to taking the lead on.

None o this is possible without your support and belie in our

work. Tank you so much! I encourage you to spend as much time

as possible outside appreciating the majestic beauty o this state. It is

a wonderul way to remind yourselves o how blessed we are to live

here, and how important it is to protect this place.

Tanks and Happy Summer!

Lisa Wozniak, Executive Director

UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTSUPCOMING EARTHWORK MUSIC DATES

Manchester Riverfolk FestivalCarr Park, August 1

UP State FairEscanaba, August 18-23

Greenup: Michigan GreenChemistry ConferenceDetroit, September 25

Great Lakes BioneersConferenceTraverse City, October 16-18

SAVE THE DATE

November 5, 2009at The Ark

with May Erlewine & Seth Ber

For details and a list of the latehappenings, please check ou

www.michiganlcvedfund.org

www.michiganlcv.org!

Breathe Owl BreatheBlack Cat Barn, Charlevoix, August 16

Seth BernardBells Brewery, Kalamaoo, August 20

May Erlewine & Seth BernardBluegrass Festival, Ypsilanti, September 5

Rachael DavisWheatland Music Festival, Remus, September 11

Rachael Davis, Breathe Owl Breathe, MayErlewine & Seth BernardHarvest Gathering, Lake City, September 18-20

May Erlewine & Seth BernardGreat Lakes Bioneers ConerenceTraverse City, October 16-18

Tourism and recreation is the third largest indus-try in Michigan, and the success o that industry

is impossible without clean air, healthy orests,beautiul beaches, and clean water.


3/8

Theres No Place Like HomeBY KERRY DUGGAN

I recently had to make a decision (and it was a

struggle) between staying in our nations capi-

tol ollowing the exciting election o President

Obama or moving back to our two amazing

Peninsulas.I chose Michigan. I love Michigan. I love

watching sunsets over our lakes, walks in our

woods, the diversity o people, my amily,

Detroit and the countryside. We invented the

road trip, and who doesnt like going up north

or to the Tumb, Mackinac Island or the UP?

In my rst ew weeks on the job at Michigan

LCV, I was in Grand Rapids, Saugatuck,

Gull Lake and Battle Creek meeting amazing

people. We have so many gems here, and I

plan on showing them o to the world while

reminding our citizens that its up to us,

especially in tough economic times, to remain

vigilant about the protection o our natural

beauty.

I spent the last two years at national LCVworking to turn environmental values into

national priorities by electing and holding

accountable ederal elected ocials. It was an

intense and rewarding couple o years, but I

accepted an oer to serve as Deputy Director

& Director o Development with the Michi-gan LCV and moved back to Michigan.

We at Michigan LCV are very aware o the

niche we ll and critical role we play in politics

and in the environmental movement. I am

proud o the early work we have completed to

prepare or the 2010 election. Our strategic

planning has ocused us in on key districts

where we know we will make a dierence.

Were always up or a challenge, and we

have our work cut out or us with the 2010

election. Due to term limits, 30 o the 38

state Senate seats are open. Every state House

seat is up or election, Governor Granholm is

term-limited out, as are the Attorney General

and Secretary o State. And i that were notenough, two state Supreme Court Justices are

up or re-election, and we may have at least

one open U.S.Congressional seat. It is going t

be a year with signicant political implication

at every level o government, and ultimately,

the outcome will have an enormous impacton the 2010 redistricting process or our state

We are predicted to lose one, i not two, U.S.

Congressional seats based on our next census.

Rest assured that Michigan LCV understands

these challenges and is prepared to meet them

head on. I am delighted to join this talented

team, and I truly hope you will join with us a

we work hard to protect Michigan and all its

natural beauty. n

Michigan LCV Unveils New Website Check It Out!BY JEREMY CAVERLY

I chose Michigan. I love Michigan. I love watching sunsets over ourlakes, walks in our woods, the diversity o people, my amily, Detroitand the countryside.

We are excited to announce the unveiling o our newly designed website during the month o

July! Ater several months and countless hours o internal discussions among our board, sta and

several o our members, we look orward to introducing you to a entirely new tool that will enableyou to not only keep tabs on what your elected ocials are doing in Lansing, but will also help

connect you to other Michiganders who care passionately about the environment.

Soon ater our new launch, well also be fipping the switch on a ully integrated Action Center

that will provide you with even more tools to make your voice heard and help organie others to

do the same.

Our sta and many others have put a huge amount o work into this great new resource, and

we hope youll nd the new destination both inormative and engaging. Check it out

www.michiganlcv.organd please tell us what you think! Send any and all website eedback to

[email protected] n

www.michiganlcv.org

P.S. Please join me at our upcoming events around the state as we build momentum or the 2010 elections! In August, we will be in Chelsea (8/5), Leelana

(8/16), and Grand Rapids (8/20). I you would like to join us or have questions, please contact me at 734.222.9650 or [email protected].


4/8

Trough direct outreach, media pressure, and

organizing infuential grass tops advocates in

business, academia, and elsewhere, our mission

was to get our elected leaders in Washington

to adopt our goals: 1) move to 100% electric-

ity rom clean sources, such as wind and solar;

2) cut our dependence on oil in hal; 3) create

5 million new clean energy jobs; and 4) reduce

global warming pollution by at least 80%. In

Michigan, my goal was to create public sup-

port and demand or a strong national policy

on climate change, which would infuence key

members o Congress to support a ederal cap

on global warming pollution in 2009.

In the beginning, without a specic piece

o legislation to push, it was apparent this was

going to be a challenge, a challenge that I was

willing to be a part o, and one that I jumped

at the chance to lead. I began making con-

nections within communities, networking,

and determining the lay o the land. For the

rst 10 months, most o my days were lledwith a variety o Green conerences where

I met business leaders rom around the state,

amiliarizing mysel with the Michigan LCV

membership base, and submitting letters to

the editor and opinion editorials on the sub-

ject o global warming to media outlets across

the state. I worked hard and long laying the

groundwork o an intricate inrastructure so

that when the time came, I would be able to

mobilize a large group o infuential people.

It wasnt until the end o March 2009 that

Representatives Waxman (D-CA) and Markey

(D-MA) nally introduced a drat clean energy

and climate bill the American Clean Energy

& Securities Act (ACES) - to the U.S. House

Energy and Commerce Committee. Tis was

it! Our rst serious piece o ederal global

warming legislation that could have major

implications or the United States and the rest

o the world. It was time to start translating all

my oundational work into action.

Our rst job? o help pass ACES out o the

U.S. House Energy and Commerce Commit-

tee. ogether, Michigan LCVEF and national

LCVEF joined orces to motivate members

o Michigans Congressional Delegation who

are members o the Committee to support the

bill. Representatives Stupak (D-1) and Upton

(R-06) were our rst targets.

National LCVEF sent Kerry Duggan

(ormer national LCV Campaigns Project

Manager) to help me tackle Rep. Stupaks

district. We were charged with raising aware-

ness and saturating the Upper Peninsula

(UP) with inormation about ACES to gain

public support. For one week, Kerry and I

traveled around the UP rom Mackinaw

City to Houghton, west to Ironwood, south

to Iron Mountain, east to Escanaba, and

nally north to Marquette. We met with

local newspaper editors, drank coee with

Yoopers, attended lectures, met with Rep.

Stupak, and even ate some tasty pasties! But

the most important thing we did was listen,

and we ound out that the number one issue

in the region was the sluggish economy and

the lack o jobs. Te UP was open to the po-

tential or renewable energy i it could help

bring jobs to the area. Fortunately or the

UP, we were happy to share with everyone

When I signed on as Global Climate Change Specialist or Michigan LCV Education Funds

Heat Is On campaign in the summer o 2008, the task ahead was a large and daunting one.

Our national goal was to encourage our elected leaders to get our economy moving by building

a clean energy uture.

This was it! Our rst serious piece o ederal global warming legislationthat could have major implications or the United States and abroad.It was time to start putting together all the pieces I had worked someticulously molding all o last year into action.

BY MARK NEISLER

4


5/8

that the ACES legislation was written to do

just that.

In addition to the work we did in the UP,

we also ound ourselves down in Kalamazoo

trying to change Rep. Uptons mind on the

bill. Despite our eorts in the newspaper, on

the radio and internet (check out

www.uptonenergywatch.com) - Rep. Upton

was still not supportive o the bill. Fortunately,

ACES had enough momentum without him

and the bill was passed out o the committee!

Our second job? o help pass ACES out o

the US House o Representatives. Again, we

identied the Michigan votes we needed and

ocused in on our targets Rep. Rogers (R-08),

Rep. Ehlers (R-03), Rep. Schauer (D-07),

and Rep. Peters (D-09). It was a whirlwind

couple o weeks. Not only did we travel to

Washington DC with Michigan LCV Execu-

tive Director, Lisa Wozniak, to participate in

a national LCV Lobby Day, we also saturated

each district with one-on-one meetings with

newspaper editors, ran television ads, made

phone calls, and even held a press conerence

with US Secretary o Energy Steven Chu in

Battle Creek. Business leaders, Michigan LCV

members and board members, and environ-

mental activists across the state bombarded

their oces with phone calls, letters and emails

voicing citizen support o the bill.

On June 26, 2009, almost one year to the

day I started work at Michigan LCV Education

Fund, the US House passed ACES, the most

historic environmental bill o our lietime. Te

act represents Americas rst comprehensive at-

tempt to build a new, clean energy economy. It

will create millions o jobs, reduce our danger-

ous dependence on oil, and mitigate the threat

o global warming.

ogether, we accomplished something

amazing. ogether, we called on our lead-ers to step up and protect our communities,

our way o lie, and put America back to

work. ogether, we say thank you to those

Representatives who heard us Rep. Stupak,

Rep. Kildee, Rep. Levin, Rep. Kilpatrick, Rep.

Conyers, Rep. Dingell, Rep. Schauer, and

Rep. Peters Tank You!

While we are grateul or our win in the

US House, in order to complete our victory

we must pass a similar bill in the US Senate.

In the upcoming months, national LCV and

Michigan LCV will carry our momentum

into the US Senate where our ght will be

even harder. Again, it will be imperative that

Michigans two senators, Senators Levin and

Stabenow, muster the political courage to

support a complimentary bill and push their

colleagues to do the same. We will call upon

you our members - again, to encourage our

delegates to vote in support o positive action

to address global warming and our economy.

ogether, we did it once. ogether, we can do

it again! n

For the most up to date inormation on the

progress o ACES in the US Senate, please visit

our website at www.michiganlcvedund.org.

Above: Michigan LCVs Lisa Wozniak, Kerry Duggan,and Mark Neisler with U.S. Representative John Dingelland staf in Washington DC.

Let: Michigan State Representative Kate Segal, GovernorGranhom, and U.S. Secretary o Energy Steven Chu inBattle Creek discussing education and innovation in thenew clean energy economy.

The act represents Americas rst comprehensive attempt to build a new,clean energy economy. It will create millions o jobs, reduce our danger-ous dependence on oil, and mitigate the threat o global warming.

Michigan LCVEFs Global Climate Change Spist, Mark Neisler, and Deputy Director Kerry Denjoying the majesty o the Upper Peninsula


6/8


7/8

Michigan LCV Board o Dire

GOV. WILLIAM AND HELEN MILLHonorary Co-Chairs

WILLIAM FARR, President

MIKE NEWMAN, Vice Preside

DOUG GLANCY, Secretary

ROBERT MARTEL, Treasurer

IRENE CAHILL

ANDREW HOFFMANDAVID LAGRAND

DR. DANIEL LURIA

CHRISTINE MANNINEN

DR. JOE SCHWARz

NED STAEBLER

BRUCE WALLACE

TERRY zIEMBA

MICHAEL D. MOOREDirector Emeritus

LANA POLLACKDirector Emeritus

MARK RICHARDSONDirector Emeritus

JOAN WOLFEDirector Emeritus

Advisory Board:

JOHN AUSTINJOHN CARVER

MARCIA GERSHENSON

Michigan LCV Education FBoard o Directors

WILLIAM FARR, President

ROBERT MARTEL, Treasurer & Sec

MONTE DORAN

ELIzABETH GOODENOUGH

CHRISTOPHER KOLBREBECCA PEARSON

MARK RICHARDSON

ROB SISSON

ERIC WINGFIELD

James W. Abernathy

Margaret J Beck

Beldon Fund

Melvin Borin

John & Irene Cahill

Jim Carey

Margaret A Carter

Phelps & Jean Decker Connell

Penelope Craword

Edward & Elinor Davidson

Dan Delzoppo

Paul & Constance Dimond

Kerry Duggan

Ecology Center

William & Kay Farr

Albert & Karen Gallup

Beverly M. Ghesquiere

The Glancy Foundation, Inc.

Eliabeth Goodenough & Gil Lea

Leah Gunn

Loren & Lynette Houtman

Don Inman & Virginia Pierce

Joseph & Judith Jarecki

Jerry Jung

Charles & Linda Kehr

League o Conservation Voters Education FundRichard & Carol Leyshock

Bob Martel

Kirk N Martin

James Maturen

Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation

Robert & Jane McElroy

John McGarry

Michigan Environmental Council

John & Gwen Nystuen

Gerhard & Margaretha Olving

Judy Pasich

Ralph Pernice

Josh Pokempner & Gretchen Gardner

Lana & Henry Pollack

Richard & Jan Robb

Barbara Schmid & Jay Stielstra

Cynthia L. Sevilla

Sanjiv Sinha

Virginia Sorenson

Charles & Beatrice Stone

Bruce Wallace

Peter M. Wege

Diane Wilbur

Larry Willey

Warren & Shirley Wole

Kathryn Woniak & Tom zieiul

Thank You to Our Most Recent Donors

Donations made between March 2009 and July 2009

promise to support legislation

that requires toy manuacturers to

disclose any hazardous chemicals

present in their products, such as

mercury, arsenic, lead, and other

poisonous chemicals.

Unortunately, there were

some Representatives that were

more concerned with politics

rather than their promises and the

saety o our children. Te ollow-

ing Representatives voted against

the very same platorm they

signed onto last year: Representa-

tives Matt Lori (R-Constantine),

Bill Rogers (R-Brighton), Rick

Jones (R-Grand Ledge), John

Proos (R-St. Joseph), Mike Simp-

son (D-Jackson), Brian Calley

(R-Portland), Joseph Haveman

(R-Holland), Paul Opsommer

(R-DeWitt), and Bill Caul (R-Mt.

Pleasant). While their votes were

disappointing and disturbing,

Michigan LCV is holding them

accountable or their actions. We

inormed their constituents o

their actions, and their votes will

be scored in the2010-2011 Mich-

igan Environmental Scorecard.

With a victory in the House,

our ght is only hal over. Te

package o bills is now in the Sen-

ate, awaiting a hearing rom the

Health Policy Committee, which

is chaired by Senator om George

(R-Kalamazoo), and we need

your help! Please help us and our

partners pressure the Senate to

take up this important legislation.

Visit www.ecocenter.org and urge

your state Senator and Chairman

George to pass the Childrens Sae

Products Act. ell them it is their

duty to provide parents with the

inormation they deserve to pro-

tect their children rom toxic toys

As this newsletter goes to

print, a hearing on these bills in

the Senate has not been sched-

uled. Check out www.michi-

ganlcvedund.org or the most up

to-date inormation regarding the

progress o the Sae Childrens Act

and or additional ways you can

help us keep our children sae. n

(Toys, Continued rom Page 6)


8/8

Manistee, Michigan was once the home o a vibrant steel and aluminum industry that employed hundreds o

northern Michigan residents, many in the manuacturing sector and related to the automotive industry. In the

last ew months, this type o story in Michigan has not typically ended well. But this story is dierent.As the national economic downturn struck a serious blow to our automotive sector, Masech Manuactur-

ing in Manistee decided to change their plan. Tey partnered with a wind energy company out o Nevada

called Mariah Power. ogether, the two companies retooled the manuacturing acility in Manistee to produce

the Windspire, an electricity generating wind turbine that can be used in varying capacities, including residen-

tial and commercial buildings.

By August o this year, the plant will be making approximately 1000 turbines per month, and by the end o

2009, the plant will employ 120 people. Tese employees worked in automotive manuacturing, but have been

retrained to manuacture wind turbines rom start to nish. From machinists to programmers, this company

is the model example o what Michigan can do in the renewable energy sector to put our uniquely talented

manuacturing workorce back to work.

Tanks to Michigans commitment to clean energy with the passage o the states rst Renewable Energy

Standard (RES) in 2008, more success stories like Masech Manuacturing will be possible in the years tocome and it will turn Michigans economy around.

o view a recent story about Masech and Mariah Power on ABCs 20/20 or or more inormation, please

visit www.mariahpower.com. n

WLibertySt.,Suite300 Arbor,MI48104

MichiganLCV.org

MasTech Manuacturing:Riding the Winds o Change

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Michigan LCV Newsletter - Summer 2009