A Challenge for Michigan

With much talk about the lack of vision in our leaders and needing some future goals and objectives for the state, why not think way out of the box and adopt an Apollo like vision?

Why not commit the state to becoming 100% Energy Self-sufficient and Carbon Neutral by 2050? Indeed, why not require that by 2050 100% of our energy come from renewable sources?

Would this require a massive effort? Sure, but what worthwhile goal doesn t? Could it be achieved? I firmly believe that it could. No doubt it would take the committed involvement from all the citizens, businesses, and politicians. It would require a multifold effort encompassing many areas as there is no one magic bullet.

For example (and this is hardly exhaustive):

Construction: Immediately adopt the EPA energy standards for all new residential construction. This has been blocked to date by the homebuilders lobby on the grounds that it would make new homes too expensive, but that is a shortsighted argument compared to the ongoing heating and cooling costs.

We should also immediately start to require that all new public buildings be construction to meet LEED certification standards.

In the near future, as LEED standards are finalized for residential construction, they should be phased in, initially with tax incentives, but later be made mandatory. The same end goal should apply to all commercial construction.

Transportation: Provide tax incentives for hybrid vehicles. Raise that gas tax by $0.25 per gallon and devote 100% to mass transit and passenger rail. This assistance should be in the form of capital assistance and not operating subsidies. Also raise the tax on diesel fuel by $0.25 per gallon and devote 100% of it to rail freight. We build the roads, why shouldn t we help to build the railroads? The goal with rail freight should be to have all viable lines have double tracks in order to speed and facilitate freight and passenger train movements. Provide public support for cellulosic ethanol production and use.

Electrical Power Generation: Start by adopting a short term RPS (Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard) goal that is reasonable but mandatory (no exit-ramps) of 10% by 2015, with the intention of going to 100% by 2050. Granted there would still be some legacy power plants (coal, gas, nuclear) but these would have to be offset by renewable energy. Michigan is ranked number 3 nationwide as having wind potential. Start by requiring each traditional power plant by matched by a wind power plant of equal capacity. If Consumer s wants to build a coal plant, they must also build a like capacity wind farm.

Offer tax incentives to both residential and commercial owners to install wind and solar and other renewable energy provisions on their existing buildings/homes.

Energy Efficiency: Offer tax incentives to businesses and citizens to add insulation to their existing buildings.

Trees: Adopt a short term goal of planting one tree for every resident. With a population of around 10 million, this would be a great start in reducing our carbon footprint. Adopt a statewide tree replacement law of requiring the each tree harvested must be replaced by five (5) trees planted. Make this applicable to both residents AND forestry operators.

Land Use Planning: Require that all local zoning permit New Urban developments. Insist that existing urban infill situations adopt these same New Urban development standards. Expand the agricultural preservation programs by going statewide with the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, but also change the tax assessment policies to stop penalizing farmers for not subdividing their fields. At the same time, focus an equal effort of urban renewal and brown field development. You cannot preserve farmland without reinvigorating your cities.

These are just a few steps that could lead towards a real goal - a goal of our state becoming energy self-sufficient, having a zero carbon footprint and using 100% renewable energy.

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