Clean Energy News

Ann Arbor, MI - Environment Michigan launched the New Energy Future platform campaign to take advantage of the 2006 Election as an opportunity to show broad public support for moving Michigan beyond fossil fuels and toward a cleaner and more secure energy future. We asked state candidates to endorse the New Energy Future platform, a bold plan to change Michigan’s energy path.  The response was tremendous – 32 candidates who signed the platform won re-election, including several with strong leadership potential.

The New Energy Future platform commits lawmakers to enact visionary policies that would:

• Harness homegrown, renewable clean energy sources for electricity
• Save energy with high-performance homes and businesses
• Invest in a new energy future through aggressive research and development of energy saving and renewable energy technologies
  

The New Energy Future platform brought significant attention to energy independence issues in the 2006 election, including prompting a question at the second Gubernatorial debate, a front page story in Crain’s Detroit Business and editorials across the state.  With energy issues poised to be a top priority in Governor Granholm’s second term and in next Legislative session, the platform sets Michigan on an energy path that emphasizes homegrown, clean energy as opposed to dirty, dangerous imported fossil fuels.

With 33 candidates who signed the platform winning, the message from the 2006 Election is clear: Voters want clean, forward looking energy policy that will put our economy and our environment above Big Energy and other powerful interests.  Based on the support for our New Energy Future platform, and the role of energy in this election, the new Legislature in Michigan and Governor Granholm should respond by delivering on an agenda for a New Energy Future.

Environment Michigan’s efforts were part of a national campaign from a coalition of over 250 business, labor, religious and environmental organizations.  Over 180 candidates for federal office signed onto a similar platform calling for America to move towards energy independence though commitments to renewable energy, energy conservation, oil savings and investments in energy technologies.

Below is a complete list of candidates who signed the platform and won on election night.

Michigan Senate:

8th District        Raymond Basham

9th District        Dennis Olshove

10th District      Thomas Schaut

18th District      Liz Brater

19th District      Mark Schauer

21st District       Ron Jelinek

23rd District      Gretchen Whitmer

24th District      Patricia Birkholz  

26th District      Deb Cherry

31st District       Jim Barcia

Michigan House:

6th District        Marsha Cheeks

8th District        George Cushingberry, Jr.

12th District      Steve Tobocman

13th District      Barbara Farrah

15th District      Gino Polidori

23rd District      Kathleen Law

25th District      Steven Bieda

31st District       Fred Miller

34th District      Brenda Clack

35th District      Paul Condino

37th District      Aldo Vagnozzi

49th District      Lee Gonzales

50th District      Ted Hammon

52nd District      Pam Byrnes

60th District      Robert Jones

63rd District      Lorence Wenke

68th District      Joan Bauer

69th District      Mark Meadows

76th District      Michael Sak

84th District      Terry Brown

85th District      Richard Ball

95th District      Andy Coulouris

103rd District    Joel Sheltrown