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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Fight Animal Factory Pollution!


BECOME A FACTORY FARM WATER MONITOR
Sign up for one of our free water monitoring webinars!
Tues., June 18, 7-8 pm
Thurs., June 20, 7-8pm
Lynn Henning takes a water sample from a stream near a CAFO in South Central Michigan.
 
A key weapon in the fight against polluting animal factories is evidence volunteers gather in nearby waterways. Concerned citizens help collect vital data on pathogens and bacteria that end up in rivers and streams when manure waste runs off from farm fields, lagoon leaks or intentional dumping. They also check for lowered dissolved oxygen levels--caused by excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from animal factories--that contribute to fish kills.
 
Sierra Club is offering two free webinars about animal factory water monitoring conducted by Goldman Environmental Prize Winner Lynn Henning. She’ll give an overview of the types of pollution caused by animal factories, how water monitoring is done and what Sierra Club does with the data.

Participants will also have the opportunity to sign up for advanced training to become a volunteer water monitor of an animal factory in their area.

To register: Email cecilia.garcia@sierraclub.org and specify the webinar date in the subject line.



 


  


 

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Everything That’s Wrong with Coal – and Right about Clean Energy – in 2 minutes (video)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/29/2013
Contact: Eitan Bencuya, eitan.bencuya@sierraclub.org202-495-3047
View as webpage


Everything That’s Wrong with Coal – and Right about Clean Energy – in 2 minutes
 
Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Releases “Coal 101” Video, Detailing the Dangers of Coal
 
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Today the Sierra Club released a new video highlighting the dangers of mining, burning and disposing coal. This short video offers a helpful resource for explaining the problems with coal-powered dirty fuels, the benefits of clean energy, and the need to move the country beyond coal. 
 
 
 
“It’s clear that coal is a dirty, dangerous and outdated fuel source that is making kids sick,” said Mary Anne Hitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “From mining, to burning, to disposal, coal is wreaking havoc on our health and our planet. We hope this video helps viewers better understand the dangers of powering our country by burning coal, and why it is so important that we transition to clean, renewable sources of energy.”
 
Designed and produced in-house by the Sierra Club’s creative department, the animated video creates an engaging visual that details why it is so critical that we move off coal. 
 
You can watch the full video at: http://sc.org/coal101 or watch the video in Spanish at: http://sc.org/ciclodelcarbon
 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Shareholders Call on CMS Energy to Invest in Renewables at Annual Shareholder Meeting

Shareholders question CMS plans for continued reliance on dirty energy




May 17, 2013 - JACKSON – CMS Energy executives faced questions from shareholders Friday morning at their annual general meeting for shareholders about the company’s plans to continue investing in fossil fuel electric generation, like coal and natural gas, over renewable energy and energy efficiency.


“CMS Energy has an opportunity to be not just a true energy leader, but also more profitable down the road so it can continue creating Michigan jobs and providing Michigan energy to families and businesses,”   said Debra Rowe, a CMS Energy shareholder from Farmington Hills. “It is time that CMS Energy expand their use of new, clean energy sources like solar and wind, not only for the health and safety of our communities but for a return on investment.”


CMS Energy has met it’s renewable energy goal and has lowered their renewable energy surcharge to customerrs further, as a result of lower than expected costs for renewable energy.  The company also exceeded its energy efficiency goals and has been awarded performance incentive payments by the Michigan Public Service Commission, but continues to limit its investment to the bare minimum required by law.

Shareholders are paying a heavy price as a consequence of CMS’ dependence on dirty energy. Michigan residents shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of the utility’s risky business decisions,” said Frank Zaski, a CMS shareholder from Franklin.  “Instead of investing in aging infrastructure to continue to burn dirty coal and build a new natural gas plant, CMS has the opportunity to earn returns on large capital investments in clean renewable energy, unleashing innovation and creating thousands of jobs for Michigan workers in new industries.”

CMS has been debating mothballing seven old coal units at the Cobb, Whiting and Karn Weadock plants in 2015, but recently requested an extension for 2016.   The company has also been making costly updates at its other coal plants to continue to keep them running and plans to build a new 700 megawatt natural gas plant in Thetford, Michigan.

“It makes financial sense for CMS to continue to transition away from dirty coal and natural gas and start getting serious about clean energy and energy efficiency investments,” continued Rowe.   “The company’s poor environmental performance and continuing investment in coal are putting shareholder value at risk.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), electric rates in Michigan are higher than in 38 other states and are among the highest in the country. Michigan rates were up eight percent last year, compared to rates across the country that were up one percent. By transitioning away from expensive, dirty coal to renewable sources like wind and solar power and by maximizing energy efficiency, CMS could save shareholders money.  

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Clean Energy Now is a collaboration of nearly 50 non-profit organizations in Michigan working to move our state toward a clean energy future.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Less=More Coalition Offers Sustainable Livestock Farmers Easy Access to Subsidy Info

New Web Link Quickly Connects Farmers With Application and Subsidy List

Media Contact: Gail Philbin, gail.philbin@sierraclub.org, 312-493-2384

Lansing, Mich.— As part of its effort to help level the playing field for sustainable livestock farmers in Michigan, the Less=More Coalition has made available information about taxpayer-funded Farm Bill conservation subsidies in one place online at http://tinyurl.com/EQIPsubsidies.

“Farmers are busy folks, and sustainable farmers often lack the kind of outreach and support for farm program applications that large-scale industrial farm operators receive,” said Sandy Nordmark, vice president of the Michigan Farmers Union, which is a member of Less=More. “We aim to make it as easy as possible for them to access funding possibilities for their conservation practices by putting all the information they need in one cyber-location.”

Less=More is a sustainable agriculture coalition launched earlier this year to address the inequity of Farm Bill subsidy distribution in Michigan and how the system favors polluting factory farms over safe, sustainable livestock farms at the expense of the environment and public health

The Less=More web link connects farmers with basic information about 2013 Farm Bill subsidies in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Michigan. It includes a listing of the more than 100 conservation practices funded by EQIP and the amount of money available for each practice as well as the most current EQIP application.

“This information is available on the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Michigan website, but it can be tricky to find if you don’t know where to look,” said Lynn Henning, a Water Sentinel for the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, another Less=More coalition member.  “We make it as simple as possible. A farmer can sit down and get an idea of what’s out there for him or her with a click or two of the mouse.”

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the agency that distributes taxpayer-funded subsidies through a State Conservationist in Michigan, is mandated to distribute 60 percent of the EQIP funds to livestock operations. Currently, most go to support Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), also known as factory farms, in Michigan.

Of the 104 EQIP subsidies available in 2013, 53 are practices identified by the NRCS as being applicable to farmers with organic certification, according to Henning. These include such activities as brush management, grassed waterways, fencing and filter strips.

Although about half of the practices are listed as organic, the reality is that the biggest EQIP subsidies go to support practices dealing with waste -- handling, storage, separators, transfer systems and biodigesters -- that are specific to large-scale operations with thousands of animals that generate millions of gallons of manure. For example, a factory farm can apply for and receive more than $43,000 for a solid/liquid waste separation facility, and anaerobic digesters fetch anywhere from roughly $300-$600 per animal unit, which translates to a substantial sum for an operation with thousands of animals.

“Essentially, factory farms take a perfectly good natural material – animal manure — and concentrate it until it becomes an environmental issue and then they receive federal money to address the problem they’ve created,” said Anne Woiwode, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter director. “Meanwhile, sustainable farmers who work with nature and have appropriate numbers of animals for the amount of land available have little need for funds to address such problems, but they—and consumers--would benefit greatly from receiving more support for their sustainable practices.”

In addition, this taxpayer money doesn’t always solve an operation’s underlying environmental problems, according to a recent report by Less=More, Restoring the Balance to Michigan’s Farming Landscape, which demonstrates that many polluting factory farms have continued to receive taxpayer money. The report found that 37 Michigan factory farms cited for environmental violations and unpermitted discharges over the 15 years ending in 2011 were awarded nearly $27 million in various Farm Bill subsidies between 1995 and 2011.  Of these operations, 26 jointly racked up fines and penalties of more than $1.3 million for their share of these violations.

“Taxpayers are providing millions of dollars in government subsidies to industrial mega-farms in Michigan that generate pollution and cause health risks while undermining sustainable farms at the same time,” said Woiwode. “This happens at a time when more and more Michigan consumers are seeking safe, healthy, local sources of meat, dairy, poultry and eggs at farmers markets, stores, restaurants and community supported agriculture.”

Less=More is a coalition of organizations engaged in various aspects of our food system that seek to level the playing field for sustainable farmers by addressing the inequity of how taxpayer subsidies are distributed in Michigan. It includes: Beery Farms of Michigan, LLC, the Center for Food Safety, Crane Dance Farm, LLC, Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan, Food & Water Watch, Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council, Groundswell Farm, Humane Society of the United States, Michigan Farmers Union, Michigan Voices for Good Food Policy, Michigan Young Farmers Coalition, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter and Socially Responsible Agricultural Project.

Restoring the Balance to Michigan’s Farming Landscape and other information about Less=More is available at www.MoreforMichigan.org.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Volunteers Needed for Farmers Market Blitz This Summer

The Less=More Coalition Needs Your Help!

The Less=More Coalition is looking for volunteers to help collect petition signatures at farmers markets around the state this summer. We need help harnessing the voice of concerned consumers like you who want to help even the playing field for sustainable agriculture in Michigan by sending a message to Garry Lee, the Michigan State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, to stop using taxpayer subsidies to support polluting factory farms.

 Lee has the power to reapportion how Farm Bill subsidies are distributed, and right now, they heavily favor massive animal factories that cram thousands of animals into warehouses and pollute our water and air. (If you haven't already, click here to send him an email.)
 
 If you have an hour or two to spare this summer, spend it at your local farmers market getting signatures for our petition! A small amount of your time can yield big benefits for sustainable farming in Michigan. For details, contact gail.philbin@sierraclub.org. Thank you!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Clean Energy Advocates Call on DTE to be Accountable to Michigan Shareholders & Ratepayers



Thursday, May 2, 2013




Clean Energy Advocates Call on DTE to be Accountable to Michigan Shareholders & Ratepayers
Michigan shareholders and ratepayers hold press conference outside DTE Headquarters to represent Southeast Michigan’s missing voices from DTE shareholder meeting in NYC
DETROIT – Dozens of ratepayers and shareholders gathered in front of DTE Energy’s headquarters today as Michigan’s largest utility held its annual shareholder meeting in New York City, far from its ratepayers and those affected by its corporate policies. The clean energy advocates raised concerns about DTEs dependence on coal, which poses a health risk for residents and a financial risk for shareholders. Clean Energy Now members spoke to an empty chair, symbolizing DTE CEO Gerry Anderson and the board who refused to face concerned shareholders in the utility’s hometown. The group delivered thousands of comments and petitions from DTE’s ratepayers across Southeast Michigan calling on DTE to support clean energy and energy efficiency as well.
Ratepayers and shareholders are paying a heavy price as a consequence of DTE’s dependence on dirty energy. Michigan ratepayers shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of the utility’s risky business decisions,” said Frank Zaski, a DTE shareholder and ratepayer from Franklin.  Instead of investing in aging infrastructure to continue to burn dirty coal or building an unneeded and extremely costly nuclear plant, DTE has the opportunity to earn returns on large capital investments in clean renewable energy, unleashing innovation and creating thousands of jobs for Michigan workers in new industries.”
Southeast Michigan is home to DTE Energy’s dirty and outdated coal plants, which emit enormous amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, mercury, soot, smog and particulate matter. Recent studies have linked these contaminants to numerous health problems, including: heart disease, childhood asthma, lung disease and neurological impairment, particularly in infants.  Currently, almost every coal plant owned by DTE has been cited for environmental violations, with several lawsuits against the company by environmental agencies and organizations pending.   
“My kid deserves better, and so do all of the children of southeast Michigan,” said Nicole O’Brien, a concerned mother and ratepayer in Beverly Hills. “It’s shameful DTE is avoiding listening to parents who have kids with health problems. We know these plants are making people sick, yet DTE continues to rely on coal as our major energy source. I’m encouraging DTE to do the right thing and to open their ears to the voices of concerned Michigan residents. It’s long overdue we transition away from coal and embrace renewable energy alternatives to clean up our state and to prevent pollution from harming our kids.”

Douglas Myers, resident of River Rouge who deals with pollution from DTE’s River Rouge coal plant daily, traveled to the New York City annual meeting and said he “felt it necessary to make our voices heard during DTE’s shareholder meeting in NYC for the future of the Downriver Area as well as others that have been at risk for quite sometime due to the dependency of DTE's use of  antiquated coal-fired power plants.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), electric rates in Michigan are higher than in 38 other states and are among the highest in the country. Michigan rates were up eight percent last year, compared to rates across the country that were up one percent. By transitioning away from expensive, dirty coal to renewable sources like wind and solar power and by maximizing energy efficiency, DTE could save ratepayers money.  DTE has not made significant investments or commitments to bolster energy efficiency and renewable energy sources beyond the minimum required by state law, publicly stating that no further decisions on clean energy mandates should be made until after the current ones expire in 2015.

In 2012, DTE spent more than $11.8 million to defeat a referendum to raise Michigan’s renewable energy requirements to the same level as found in several neighboring states, despite private acknowledgement that the increased renewable requirement would not harm the company financially.  DTE is also artificially limiting its energy efficiency programs though they are the cheapest form of power. The shareholders and ratepayers at the event today called on DTE to embrace clean energy to help lower costs for ratepayers and to protect Michigan’s air and water.
 
“DTE needs to answer to Michigan residents instead of hiding in New York,” says Dan Marcin, shareholder and PhD candidate in economics from Ann Arbor. “We're calling on DTE to embrace clean, renewable energy to save ratepayers money, and to protect the health and well-being of middle class Michigan families. Let’s launch DTE out of the past and into a cleaner, brighter future. We can only move forward together if DTE’s CEO Gerry Anderson will listen to our collective concerns, and together we are rallying for change.”
Groups that delivered petitions and public comments on Thursday included: Clean Water Action, Ecology Center, Progress Michigan, Sierra Club and Union of Concerned Scientists  .


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Clean Energy Now is a collaboration of nearly 50 non-profit organizations in Michigan working to move our state toward a clean energy future.