News - Environment Michigan

Most Recent News

Senate Drops Ball on Delivering the Environmental and Economic Benefits in Energy Bill 7/01/2008

In the wee hours of Friday night, the State Senate all but scuttled Michigan’s chances of playing a significant role in America’s clean energy revolution by passing a bill that fails provide support for new clean renewable or energy efficiency; while easing the path for utilities to recover costs for more coal and nuclear plants in Michigan.

Congressman Dingell Joins Environmentalists to Call on Congress to Pass the Clean Water Restoration Act 6/30/2008

Ann Arbor — With families across Michigan headed to the Great Lakes for the Fourth of July holiday, Environment Michigan and the Huron River Watershed Council joined Congressman John Dingell near the Huron River to urge Congress to protect the Great Lakes and pass the Clean Water Restoration Act (H.R. 2421 and S. 1870).

Group Wins Long-Sought Protection for UP's Carney Fen 6/13/2008

On June 5th, the Department of Natural Resources approved the resolution to designate Carney Fen as a Natural Area - permanently protecting 2,326 acres of forest and marsh in the Upper Peninsula. The decision caps a longstanding effort by Environment Michigan and its allies to protect the area from logging and encroaching development.

Most Recent Reports

Drilling Our Conservation Heritage: The Future of Oil and Gas Drilling on Michigan’s Public Lands 7/04/2008

From the western dunes to the northern forests, Michigan’s natural landscapes provide us with unique beauty, recreation, and ecological value. Unfortunately, oil and gas drilling poses an increasing threat to these treasured lands. Leaks from drilling sites can leave soil and groundwater contaminated with hazardous waste, and new pipelines and roads for drilling sites can disrupt the places Michigan’s wildlife call home. Already, hundreds of thousands of acres of state land are open to drilling and as oil and gas prices reach new heights, industry lobbyists are pressing Lansing decision-makers to open tens of thousands of new acres to exploration and production every year.

When it Rains, It Pours 12/04/2007

Scientists expect that global warming will cause a variety of changes to precipitation patterns in the United States. Many areas will receive increased amounts of rain and snow over the course of a year; some areas will receive less. But scientists expect that, all across the country, the rainstorms and snowstorms that do occur will be more intense – increasing the risk of flooding and other impacts.

Driving Towards a New Energy Future 11/19/2007

The Senate CAFE would raise gas mileage standards for cars and trucks from 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg) and 22.2 mpg respectively to 35 mpg by 2020. This would save Michigan consumers $977 million dollars at the pump in 2020, reduce oil consumption by 42,718 barrels per day in 2020 and having global warming emissions equivalent to taking 516,739 cars off the road in 2020.

Our Issues in the News

Marathon's aim: Infusion of gas, jobs 8/28/2007

A proposed second major expansion of Marathon Petroleum Co.'s refinery in Detroit holds the promise of easing the volatility of southeast Michigan gas prices and adding jobs.

Plans to expand oil refinery draw fire 7/25/2007

In a classic battle between economic and environmental interests, some members of Congress from the Great Lakes states are urging a federal agency to prevent an Indiana oil refinery from moving ahead with a $3-billion expansion of its plant along the southern Lake Michigan shoreline.

BP lake discharges under fire 7/25/2007

Oil giant BP ran into fierce resistance Tuesday in Congress over its plan to dramatically increase daily discharges of ammonia and other pollutants from its Whiting, Ind., refinery into Lake Michigan.