Make Michigan Energy Policy Strong!

Michigan students from around the state took the message of "clean energy now!" to state legislators Wednesday at the capitol in Lansing.

Students attended the House energy committee meeting before spending the day lobbying with members of the Sierra Club for a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard of 20% by 2020, Energy Efficiency increases of 2% per year and no new coal plants.

The days events were covered in the State News, check out the story - Students lobby Legislature

The next lobby day will be December 12th, in Lansing with the Sierra Club & members of the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition.

Currently Energy Legislation is being taken up by the Michigan House of Representatives making this a crucial time for us to influence this package of bills. Proposals in Michigan include 7 NEW coal-fired power plants that will keep Michigan locked in the energy dark ages - - emitting and keeping funding for clean energy projects - we need our legislators to change this course by voting in Energy legislation for our state that would;

• Enact a strong renewable energy standard that requires energy providers to generate 20 percent of their electric power from renewable sources by 2020.
• Enact aggressive, statewide, utility-funded energy efficiency programs that reduce energy consumption in the state by at least 1 percent per year.
• Protect consumers from having to absorb the skyrocketing future costs of coal burning.
  Implement a long-term energy plan that guarantees energy efficiency and renewable power are used before any more outdated coal plants are built.
• Develops new standards for controlling the emission of CO2.

Here’s the plan for next Wednesday’s Blitz:
Please try to arrive in Lansing so we can get started by 8:45am. We’ll meet at the Central United Methodist Church at 215 N. Capitol, kiddy-corner from the capitol and right across from the Anderson (House office) building (same place we’ve met for Lobby Day). We will be providing coffee, rolls & donuts in the morning. We’ll go over our message at the morning orientation at 8:45am at the church and we’ll be working in teams with 8-10 offices to visit assigned per team. More details on our message and materials will be coming soon!!!!! Let us treat you to lunch…and we should be completed around 1-ish. NOTE-Carpooling will be happening from many locations…so we can do our part on saving energy! Sign up and we’ll tell you who is coming from your area.

Here’s the link to the parking map: http://www.cityoflansingmi.com/Lansing/pnd/parking/docs/downtown_map.pdf

Please contact jan.oconnell@sierraclub.org or 616-956-6646 to RSVP or get more details.

Invitation: The Transportation Weekend Getaway

Hello Michiganders!

In January, many of you will have completed your first semester as leaders of the Transportation Challenge Campaign! No matter how far along you are in achieving your campaign goals, no matter how many bike lanes have fresh paint or roads you've closed, you have taken the first step toward sustainable transportation on campus and for that you deserve a pat on the back.

The Freedom from Oil team at Global Exchange and Rainforest Action Network would like to celebrate with you and offer a weekend of additional training to help you shift the Challenge into high gear this spring. PLEASE JOIN US in Detroit, January 11-13 for the first ever Transportation Challenge Weekend Getaway!

Register online: http://ran.org/transportationchallenge <http://ran.org/transportationchallenge>

We will check in with you by phone to determine the kinds of training your group desires - from facilitation to organizational development to recruitment to media, we want to give your work a boost!

The weekend will be jam-packed with workshops and networking to enhance skills that will be useful in ALL of your work across all issues. Additionally, you will have an opportunity to network with the other schools that are running the Transportation Challenge and share successes, difficulties, advice and plans for the next semester.

Then, on Sunday, we will take our concerns to the automakers! The North American International Auto Show opens on Sunday, November 13 at the Cobo Convention Center in Detroit. We will rally to announce our concerns about oil, climate change, car culture, the economy and green jobs directly to the industry that has the most influence over these issues in Michigan --- the auto industry.

With a fun and creative rally that YOU will design and build, let's tell the automakers that the next generations of car buyers WILL NOT SETTLE for anything less than the cleanest, most ultra-efficient, oil-free vehicles. Let's bring the youth voice forward yet again to keep the pressure on our worst polluters and keep our struggle in the public eye.

Please register NOW to secure a place for a weekend of training, activism and fun with RAN and Global Exchange! There is a requested $15-50 sliding scale registration fee. Some scholarships are available. Food, accommodations, and some rides will be provided. Visit: http://ran.org/transportationchallenge to tell us you're coming.

**Note that this event is open to all - there will be an introductory track offered to students who are not currently working on transportation issues - but slots will be reserved for students already working on the Transportation Challenge who wish to learn new skills and give existing work a boost in the New Year.

Thanks all. We can't wait to see you in January,

Jodie Van Horn and Brandon Knight

Freedom from Oil Campaigners