Where
does Michigan
Stand?
Lansing, MI
—Michigan’s pending renewable electricity
standard (RES) would cut pollution, save money, create jobs, and fuel a clean
energy boom in our state, as in the other 25 U.S.
states that have passed similar policies, according to a new report released
today by Environment
Michigan Policy
& Research Center.
Dozens of states are reaping the rewards
of their renewable electricity standards – showing how the RES is a win-win
policy both environmentally and economically.
Environment Michigan
is hoping to see both the State Legislature and Congress establish a RES this
year.
America
now generates twice as much electricity from the wind and the sun as it did
just four years ago. RES policies have been among the most important factors in
encouraging the development of renewable energy. The new report, Reaping the Rewards, documents the
benefits that have already been achieved by states that have adopted renewable
electricity standards.
Reaping the Rewards
found significant environmental benefits as a result of new renewable energy
development. Renewable energy sources
built after the adoption of state RES policies will:
- Reduce America’s
global warming emissions by approximately 8.4 million metric tons per year, the
equivalent of taking more than 1.5 million cars off America’s roads.
- Avert approximately 2,100 tons of nitrogen oxide
emissions, 44 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions, and 220 tons of non-methane
hydrocarbon emissions each year.
- Save approximately 1.2 billion gallons of water
per year.
RES states are benefiting from
cleaner air and reduced global warming pollution, while in Michigan
the utilities are proposing four new coal plants further putting our environment,
Great Lakes and way of life at risk. In Michigan the
electric power industry is the biggest toxic air polluter and coal is the
dirtiest fuel - mercury pollution from power plants limits consumption of fish
caught in all of Michigan’s
inland lakes and streams & has crippled our multi-billion dollar fishing
and tourism industries.
“While a clean energy boom is revitalizing economies across
the country, Michigan has instead achieved four new coal plants proposals in
the last year – it appears our state is moving backwards instead of embracing
this opportunity to protect our environment and important tourism and fishing
industries and revitalize our economy,” said Abby Rubley, Field Director for
Environment Michigan Research & Policy Center. “With almost 8 million Michiganders living in
places where the air is literally unsafe to breathe and as the 10th largest
emitting state of global warming emissions, Michigan needs to make commitments to clean
energy not more polluting coal,” continued Rubley.
Reaping the Rewards
also shows how RES policies play an important role in luring manufacturing
facilities because of the long-term commitments they represent. The report shows how several of the world’s
leading manufacturers of wind turbines have built or announced construction of
manufacturing facilities – most in states that have adopted RES policies. “Colorado, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, and Massachusetts are already reaping the rewards for their
leadership on clean energy,” said Kim Pargoff, Energy Advocate for Environment Michigan Research &
Policy Center.
“Thanks to their renewable electricity standards, which establishes long-term
commitments to build the market for renewable energy technologies, clean energy
is booming in these states,” continued Pargoff.
The result has been that these RES states are the epicenters
of renewable energy development, are drawing in significant investment and the
creation of thousands of new, high-quality jobs. For example in 2006 and 2007 some of the
world’s largest wind manufacturers – Vestas, Siemens, Clipper Windpower, Suzlon
Energy, and Gamesa – have all opened or announced new manufacturing facilities
in RES states creating thousands of new high-quality jobs and building the
renewable energy industry in those states.
Reaping the Rewards
also found that RES states are leading the way in renewable energy development.
- In 2006, more than two-thirds of all new
renewable electric generating capacity in the United States was built in RES
states. The same is likely to hold true
in 2007, with more than 70 percent of planned renewable generation capacity
expected in RES states.
- Approximately 54 percent of the electricity
consumed in the United
States is in states with RES policies.
- In 2007, renewables account for about 38 percent
of planned capacity additions in RES states, compared to just 12 percent in
non-RES states. For example, there are
currently 48 MW of renewable energy capacity proposed in Michigan
compared to 282 MW in Illinois
- a state with less wind potential but with a RES in place.
Renewable energy can play an important role in revitalizing
America’s and Michigan’s economy by creating high-quality jobs and accelerating
rural economic development by providing large infusions of tax dollars into
often struggling rural economies. Michigan already has 35
manufacturers of wind components according to Next Energy, Build It in Michigan and unparalleled industrial strength to
further grow this industry. The
long-term potential for Michigan and this budding industry are significant; the
issue of energy security, water use, and energy resources is not going away and
RES policies may determine which states reap the rewards and which are left out
to dry.
In order to expand the benefits of renewable energy
development, the report concludes that states should adopt their own renewable
energy standards and the United States
should adopt a renewable electricity standard requiring at least 25 percent of America’s
electricity to come from new renewable sources by 2025.
“State officials across the nation deserve tremendous credit
for recognizing the benefits of jumpstarting renewable energy and taking
action. It is time for Michigan
to stop the discussions and implement legislation,” said Pargoff. “Chairman Accavitti,
Chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee and the state house have
taken an important step in the right direction by taking up RES and other Clean
Energy legislation, and the Senate should join them. There are expectations for movement of an
energy package in the state house in October after the pending budget crisis is
resolved. We are anxious to see Michigan take advantage
of this unparalleled opportunity to revive its economy,” continued Pargoff.
To view or download a full version of the report please
click here:
http://www.environmentmichigan.org/reports/energy/energy-program-reports/reaping-the-rewards
###
Environment Michigan
Research & Policy Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to
protecting Michigan’s
land, air and water.
