42 Local Groups Urge Michigan Congressional Delegation to Pass Clean Energy Aid

Click here to view the signed letter to Michigan’s Congressional delegation

Lansing, Michigan - A coalition of 42 diverse local groups and elected officials sent a letter to Michigan’s Congressional delegation today, asking them to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of clean energy and clean transportation workers in Michigan be protected and supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies across Michigan’s clean energy economy are seeing devastating job losses, with projections worsening over the coming months. 

“In addition to helping frontline workers and vulnerable communities, clean energy and clean transportation workers in Michigan need their representatives in Washington, D.C. to stand up and fight for them, said Mike Berkowitz, a Campaign Representative to Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “Clean energy and clean transportation companies have been severely damaged by this pandemic, and they need changes to existing tax incentives to make sure that their workers are paid, and that their projects have the support to both move forward at the appropriate time and be completed.” 

Before the pandemic, the clean energy sector boasted a workforce of roughly 3.4 million Americans nationwide, including over 126,000 in Michigan, with clean energy workers outnumbering fossil fuel workers by 3 to 1. Now, however, those numbers are crumbling. A devastating report from E2 showed that the clean energy sector lost 27,000 jobs in May and more than 620,000 jobs since the pandemic swept the United States, including more than 31,000 in Michigan.

“Michigan’s clean energy industry employed more than 126,000 workers before this horrible pandemic struck, but now those workers' livelihoods are in jeopardy through no fault of our own,” said Mike Linsea, Owner of Solar Winds Power Systems. “Our Congressional delegation must do more to protect clean energy workers like me, by making sure companies have the support they need from tax incentive programs.”

Before the pandemic struck, Michigan had 254 solar companies that employed roughly four thousands workers. Up until then, the Great Lake State had installed enough solar capacity to power 29,600 homes. Wind energy was also in a strong position. Michigan had more than 1,200 wind turbines functioning at the beginning of the year, producing enough electricity to power more than half a million homes. Employment in the wind industry was estimated at 5,000 workers before the pandemic swept the United States. Now all clean energy jobs are at risk. 

“Scientists recently concluded that long-term exposure to unsafe levels of air pollution, specifically the tiny toxic particles emitted from coal-fired power plants, vehicles and industries, increases the rate of death from COVID-19, exacerbating the already dire threats facing communities in environmental injustice hotspots” said Kindra Weid, a registered nurse and coordinator for MI Air MI Health. “Renewable energy, efficiency, and clean transportation can serve as a solution for mitigating air pollution, preventing future mortality, and putting people back to work during this crucial period threatening impacted communities.”

It’s clear that protecting and sustaining good jobs through federal relief packages and stimulus legislation is a crucial opportunity to protect the health of our communities and local economies. In particular, we must ensure that clean energy companies, and the millions of workers whose livelihoods depend on them, receive the support they need to sustain themselves. 

“This would be a catalyst, bringing new infrastructure investments and high quality jobs to communities across Michigan” said Jenn Hill, Marquette Mayor Pro Tem. “Our great state is filled with clean energy potential, from rural communities, to bustling cities, and communities like mine in the Upper Peninsula. Whether its jobs, cleaner air, sustainability, or royalties for landowners and communities, we all benefit from investing in clean energy.”