From the shores of Michigan to the Iowa state fair, E2’s Midwest chapter has been reinforcing the economic benefits of the Clean Power Plan since the final rule was announced this August. Midwestern Governors have seen the benefits of clean energy and can’t ignore the opportunities that the Clean Power Plan would create.
On September 1st, Michigan Republican Governor Snyder’s administration announced that the state is moving forward to comply with the Clean Power Plan. Preceding the Governor’s announcement, E2 released a poll in Michigan that showed about 90% of Michigan business leaders favor state-based action to reduce carbon emissions the day after the Clean Power Plan was made final. Garry Boyd, vice president of food and beverage at Grand Rapids-based Barfly Ventures, which operates restaurants and bars across Michigan opined in the Lansing State Journal that his business sees incredible benefit from strong environmental policy and urged the state to pass good policy.
E2 member Tim Dwight organized a panel at arguably the most preeminent fair in the country, the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, that covered the benefits of the Clean Power Plan for all clean energy sectors. On the panel was Emily Rice, an E2 member in the Iowa energy efficiency sector, representatives from the wind, renewable fuels and solar industry.
.JPG) |
|
| Left to right: Gail Parson, E2 Midwest Advocate; Rob Hach of the Iowa Wind Energy Association, Emily Rice of The Energy Group; Grant Menke of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association; Warren McKenna of the Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association; and Tim Dwight of iPower Corporation. |
In Illinois, E2 Midwest Chapter Director Will Kenworthy led a delegation of E2 members and allies to meet Alec Messina, Governor Rauner’s policy advisor for Environment and Energy. E2, a member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, has been advocating for passing the Illinois Clean Jobs bill which fixes Illinois’s renewable portfolio standard, increases energy efficiency targets and would help Illinois meet the EPA’s carbon reduction targets. E2 indicated our support for the Clean Power Plan, and as Will Kenworthy underscored this policy has the potential to unleash further potential in the burgeoning Illinois clean energy economy.
In St. Louis, on September 22nd, E2 is co-sponsoring an event with the US Green Building Council, Missouri Energy Initiative, and the St Louis High Performance Building Initiative to make the business case of clean energy and energy efficiency. New E2 member in Missouri, Zach Tucker of One3LED, also got an op-ed published on the benefits of the Clean Power Plan in the St Louis Business Journal.
Keep looking for Midwest E2 members to be on the case… the business case for the Clean Power Plan!
Gail Parson is E2's Midwest Advocate.