TRAVERSE CITY (WWJ) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has rolled out a “roadmap” for Michigan’s economy to become completely carbon neutral by 2050, with some more short-term goals in mind.
On the eve of Earth Day, Whitmer released the MI Healthy Climate Plan, which introduces climate action that would not only create jobs en route to becoming carbon neutral by the middle of the century, but lays out some important benchmarks to hit by the end of this decade.
By 2030, the plan calls for Michigan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 52% and to be generating 60% of its electricity from renewable energy sources.
The plan would then call for maintaining that net neutrality until 2050.
The plan to reach those benchmarks by the end of this decade includes six pillars:
• Commit to Environmental Justice and Pursue a Just Transition
• Clean the Electric Grid
• Electrify Vehicles and Increase Public Transit
• Repair and Decarbonize Homes and Businesses
• Drive Clean Innovation in Industry
• Protect Michigan’s Land and Water
Several of the state’s departments will focus on promoting electric vehicles by funding incentive programs that would encourage the purchase and use of EVs, as well as creating EV charging stations.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy hopes to build and deploy an energy storage grid that would house 4,000 megawatts, while capturing and distributing clean and renewable energy.
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Whitmer says Michigan has been impacted by climate change, “from a polar vortex and historic floods to dam breaks and week-long power outages,” which is why the MI Healthy Climate Plan has been launched.
The plan “identifies actions we can take to address climate change head-on, lower costs for Michiganders, ensure every Michigan worker has a good-paying, sustainable job, and every family has clean air, water, and a home powered by clean, reliable energy,”
Officials say the plan would create tens of thousands of clean-energy jobs, spur economic development and innovation, protect clean air and water, and improve public health.
“If we follow the steps outlined in the plan and collaborate with public and private sector partners, we can build a Michigan where every Michigander has clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and access to healthy, affordable local food,” Whitmer said in a press release.
“Today, we are positioning Michigan to become the global center of clean energy innovation where workers can get good-paying jobs, from those that don’t require a college degree to careers in advanced engineering and science. We can protect our beautiful public lands and majestic Great Lakes, driven by our unyielding belief in a brighter future.”
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