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Michigan State Capitol building. Photo by Anne Woiwode.
Sierra Club Goes the Extra Mile for Michigan’s Climate Bills. Senate Bills 271, 273 and 502 passed the House early Friday morning and are expected to be signed into law soon. “Thanks to thousands of calls made into lawmaker’s offices, countless messages to leaders, and dozens of in-person meetings, Michigan lawmakers finally took action to tackle climate change,” said Christy McGillivray, Sierra Club Michigan’s Legislative and Political Director.
Sierra Club is especially supportive of SB 273, which makes Michigan a national leader in energy efficiency and also supports other parts of the package. SB 271 requires Michigan utilities to meet the 100% clean energy mandate for electricity generation by 2040 and SB 502 gives the Michigan Public Service Commission tools to protect public health and achieve our climate, affordability, and equity goals. Sierra Club fought every step of the way to stop the worst excesses of fossil fuel corruption. There is clearly more work to be done, but we are proud to have put the climate package across the finish line.
“Now Michigan is ready to take advantage of federal funding to supercharge our transition to renewable energy generation. But climate change is a big problem, and we’ve got more to do–especially when it comes to tackling greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and the solid waste industry. The partnerships and power Sierra Club built to get our climate package across the finish line means we are ready for the next fight,” said Tim Minotas, Sierra Club Michigan’s Deputy Legislative and Political Director.
Participants in a final Halloween phonebank on 10/31. Top from left to right: Annabelle Hou, Sarah Tresedder, Andrew Sarpolis. Middle row from left to right: Lee Anzicek, Jan O’Connell, Tamara Horne. Bottom row from left to right: Lori Heinz Coleman, Heather Hodge.
Thank You, Volunteers! Over the past several weeks, Sierra Club volunteers and staff have turned out to advocate for clean energy environmental justice in Michigan. Thank you to the many individuals who took time out of their day to send a message, make a call or join a phone bank and get others to take action!
Vote Locally This Tuesday, November 7. Election day for many communities across Michigan is happening on Tuesday, November 7. Local elections are tremendously important for protecting the environment, investing in community infrastructure and green spaces and supporting democracy. Find out what is on your ballot, from candidates for city council, to ballot measures and millage requests, by visiting the Secretary of State’s website here. This site includes information about registering to vote, where your polling place is and much more. If you have questions, contact your local clerk for information. And make sure to vote on Tuesday, November 7!
Concern and opposition to Enbridge Line 5 is growing across the country. Photo for Oil and Water Don't Mix by Bill Latka.
Campaign to Shut Down Enbridge Line 5 News and Updates. A documentary, an economic report, court filings and a corrected letter on Line 5 are all summarized on our blog here.
Join the Photo Petition to Shut Down Enbridge Line 5. People across the U.S. and Canada are participating in an online photo petition calling for the shutdown of Enbridge Line 5. Demands for action are increasing as concern grows about the threat the 70-year-old, 645 mile long, deteriorating oil and NGL pipeline poses to the Great Lakes, northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper and lower peninsulas. Add your message in a selfie calling for action to the photo petition at the link below. It’s a quick and easy way to tell the world where you stand!
Water affordability affects families statewide. Sierra Club photo.
Sierra Club Testifies in Support of Water Affordability Legislation. “We do not have a water affordability crisis because some Michiganders can’t pay their bills. Instead, we’ve been paying the wrong bills – we’ve been paying interest on bad debt instead of paying for our infrastructure upfront" - Christy McGillivray, Sierra Club Legislative and Political Director. McGillvray's full testimony in favor of a package of water affordability legislation in the House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee on October 26 is here.
Panel members (clockwise from upper left): Gina Wilson Steward, Ember McCoy, Rhonda Anderson, Dr. Delores Leonard, Natalie Baxter and Darren Riley call on the federal government to enact strong pollution regulations to protect public health. Sierra Club photo.
Climate Justice Leaders Call on Biden Admin. to Take Bold Action Against Pollution. On Monday, October 30, Michigan climate justice leaders issued a clear message to the Biden administration: the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must swiftly finalize the strongest possible climate standards to slash dangerous soot, carbon, methane and tailpipe pollution, as well as do more to address the heavy pollution burden and lack of funding faced by front-line Black Indigenous and People Of Color communities. Read more about the the panel's presentation here.
Grand Haven pier at sunset. Photo by Jan O'Connell.
Grand Haven Board of Light and Power (BLP) Controversies and Charter Amendment Vote on Tuesday. On November 7 Grand Haven voters will decide whether to adopt a charter amendment changing the governance structure of the municipal utility. The vote comes on the heels of a whistleblower complaint and the resignation of the BLP general manager. Find out more here.
Andrew Sarpolis, Sierra Club's Michigan Field Manager, is being recognized for his outstanding work with two separate awards this month. File photos.
Way to Go, Andrew! Sierra Club’s Michigan Field Manager, Andrew Sarpolis, will be receiving TWO activist awards this November. These awards speak to how effectively Andrew has organized in communities and alongside other organizations.
On November 9, EDF Action, a partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, will award him the Advocacy Leader Award. This free event will be at the Community House in Birmingham, 380 S Bates St, Birmingham, MI 48009. RSVP here.
And on November 12, the Michigan Coalition for Human Rights will award Andrew the Zerafa Peace Activist Award, an award named posthumously after Sierra Club longtime volunteer Thomas Zerafa who passed away in the spring. This will be at The Marygrove Conservancy, 8425 W McNichols Rd, Detroit, MI 48221. RSVP here for dinner tickets.
Join us to find out how to become an advocate for healthy communities. Sierra Club file photo.
Become a Community Advocate in Southeast Michigan, December 7. Interested in getting involved with Sierra Club, or stepping up your engagement? Join Sierra Club Michigan Chapter for an evening of vision and fostering community on December 7 at the Community Advocates Kick-Off: Harnessing Resources to Power Resiliency. Federal investments have the ability to create more healthy, resilient communities and it's up to us to help shape that vision. Share your interests, connect with others in Southeast Michigan and learn how you can advocate across the region. Click here to find out more.
Sierra Club is hiring organizers in southeast Michigan. Oakland County Climate March (l) and Rain Garden planting in Detroit (r). File photos.
Sierra Club is Hiring in Michigan. Two Sierra Club organizer positions based in Detroit are now open for application. Go to the links below to find out more about these exciting positions and to submit your application.
The Field Organizer is responsible for organizing campaigns which win real victories and build the grassroots power to accomplish Sierra Club priorities, which win real victories and build the grassroots power to accomplish Sierra Club's priorities, which include addressing climate disruption, transforming the energy economy, protecting communities from pollution, ensuring access to the outdoors for all and protecting our lands, water and wildlife.
The Michigan Chapter Community Organizer position will help lead and execute assigned components of Sierra Club Michigan’s water, land, wildlife and energy campaign work, with a primary focus on projects in Detroit.
Kayaker at Duck Lake State Park. Photo by Gail Philbin.
Donate Stock or Securities to Support the Michigan Chapter. Donating stock or securities instead of cash can be a smart tax planning move and benefit Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. Stock donations can reduce your taxes by giving you total deductions that exceed your new increased standard deduction amount. You receive a charitable deduction for the full fair market value of your stock without paying capital gains tax on any increase in the current value over the original stock cost, subject to IRS deductible limitations, and other benefits!
Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor then contact Elayne Elliott Coleman at elayne.coleman@sierraclub.org for additional information on how to make a stock or securities transfer.
St. Joe Nature Area prairie and asters. Photos by John Metzler.
Explore and Enjoy: St. Joe Nature Area Service Day.
Huron Valley Group Outing, Superior Township, Washtenaw County
Saturday, November 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Join Huron Valley Group members working to remove woody species intruding into the prairie at the St. Joe Nature Area. This service outing will involve pulling, cutting and treating autumn olive, buckthorn, oriental bittersweet and honeysuckle. Participants can bring their own tools and gloves or use ones made available at the site. Sign up to participate at this link on MeetUp.
