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New
Energy Future
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Using
alternative sources of energy, such as these solar
cells at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, could
reap $750 million in new investments from development
of Michigan’s renewable energy resources and could
eliminate the equivalent of 90 million tons of global
warming pollution. Photo: National Renewable Energy
Laboratory
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Currently,
98 percent of our state's energy comes from polluting sources
like coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power. Only two
percent of the energy consumed in Michigan comes from clean,
renewable sources such as wind- powered turbines or photovoltaic
cells.
Renewable
Energy And Efficiency
In spring 2001, PIRGIM Education Fund launched our Campaign
For A New Energy Future to redirect energy policy discussions
away from continued reliance on dirty power sources and
toward increasing our use of clean, renewable sources such
as clean-burning biomass, wind and solar. Additionally,
PIRGIM Education Fund is building support for energy efficiency,
which provides a quick, cheap and effective means of cutting
our reliance on polluting sources of energy.
Significant
Potential For Michigan
Generating
Solutions: How States Are Putting Renewable Energy Into
Action, a report released by PIRGIM Education Fund
in February 2002, examined Michigan's potential for generating
electricity from renewable resources by using state-of-the-art
technology. Highlights of the report include a discussion
of successes in other states that have adopted renewable
and sustainable methods of energy production and an analysis
of the potential for power generation from renewable resources
in Michigan. The report found that 89 percent of Michigan's
power needs could be satisfied by wind, clean biomass and
landfill gas and that investing in renewable energy and
energy efficiency could save Michiganders $2.9 billion by
2020.
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| This
report, released by PIRGIM Education Fund in February
2002, discussed Michigan’s significant potential for
renewable energy and how it could benefit Michigan’s
environment and economy. |
PIRGIM
released Generating Solutions in Detroit on Feb.
21, 2002, with the Union of Concerned Scientists and National
Environmental Trust, along with the support of Bay Windpower
and the United Steelworkers of America. The report received
coverage from the Ann Arbor News, the Grand Rapids
Press, the Free Press and the Oakland Press,
as well as radio coverage on the National Public Radio network
around the state.
Looking
Ahead
Over the next year, PIRGIM Education Fund will continue
our work on energy issues, building support around the state
for clean, sustainable energy, while working to increase
energy efficiency.
Home
| Drilling In The Great Lakes
| Clean
Water Enforcement | Strengthening
Our Democracy | Land
Use And Liveable Communities | Cleaning
Up Our Air | Protecting
Consumers | New
Energy Future
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