Vote YES! on Michigan Proposal 3
Enbridge Energy, the company that owns the pipeline that spilled over a million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River has donated $10,000 to Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) for Michigan, the deceptively-named group fighting Proposal 3 which would require 25% of Michigan’s energy be from renewable sources by 2025. Clean Water Action is decrying this donation and demanding they spend their money cleaning up the environment catastrophe they are responsible for.
From CWA’s press release:
The company behind the worst on-shore oil spill in American history should be spending as much money as it takes to clean up the Kalamazoo River – not donating to anti-clean energy efforts in Michigan, Clean Water Action said Monday.Clean Water Action called on Enbridge Energy to pull back its donation to the anti-Proposal 3 group, Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) for Michigan, and put that money toward cleanup efforts still underway since the pipeline burst in 2010.
“After polluting the river with more than 1 million gallons of oil and taking more than two years to clean it up, it’s a slap in the face to Michigan residents that this corporate polluter would spend even a cent to fight clean energy in our state,” said Nic Clark, state director of Clean Water Action. “We’re calling on Enbridge to do the right thing; get this money back and put it all toward cleanup efforts in the river.”
Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency instructed Enbridge to continue cleanup efforts. The oil spill’s damage was so bad, the EPA proposed further clean up upstream of Ceresco Dam, upstream of the Battle Creek Dam, and in the delta upstream of Morrow Lake.
For more than 40 years, Clean Water Action has been the voice for clean water initiatives in Michigan. The group includes more than 250,000 Michigan members.
“Increasing Michigan’s use of clean, renewable energy will create jobs here and significantly reduce pollution in our air and water, which will improve public health and protect our Great Lakes,” Clark said.
Meanwhile, President Bill Clinton has endorsed a YES vote on Prop 3.
President Bill Clinton has endorsed Proposal 3 on Michigan’s Nov. 6 ballot, saying it will create jobs for Michigan workers and rein in skyrocketing energy costs for the citizens of Michigan.President Clinton said, “Proposal 3 is Michigan’s best opportunity this year to jumpstart the state’s economy by creating 94,000 jobs and increasing the use of renewable energy.”
President Clinton said Michigan can’t afford to get left behind the 30 other states already creating new clean energy jobs and lowering electricity bills.
States like Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio and Iowa have passed renewable energy standards similar to Proposal 3. In Illinois, a 25 by 2025 renewable energy standard has reduced electricity bills by $176 million.
This is a great shot in the arm for Prop 3 and will help ensure its passage. You can read my endorsement of Prop 3 HERE.
