As a Kent County commissioner and a parent, I care deeply about tackling the climate crisis now, not down the road. Michigan should be embracing the clean energy economy to lower families’ bills and reduce pollution.
Here in Michigan, the frequent severe storms and air quality warnings this summer have sent my asthmatic kiddo inside and underscore the reality that climate change is already impacting our lives.
Here in Kent County, we’ve spent time, money and political capital improving the systems that keep our communities safe, from water infrastructure to waste-stream innovation. We’ve seen what happens when systems fail or don’t prioritize our communities. Whether it’s PFAS in the water or outdated infrastructure pushed past its limits, the message is the same: We need smart, proactive, and equitable solutions. That’s why I’m paying close attention to the carbon capture legislation now under consideration in Lansing.
Right now, lawmakers in Lansing are grappling with what guardrails to put on future Carbon Sequestration and Underground Storage (CCUS) facilities here in Michigan. The Michigan Senate lobbed the first volley and has passed a bill package aimed at some level of regulation. But Michigan needs to lead, not be the path of least resistance on this important issue. This technology has gained traction as a potential climate solution and on the surface, it makes sense. We can capture CO₂ emissions and store them underground to prevent harm to our atmosphere. But for all its appeal, carbon capture remains an emerging technology, and one with real risks if we don’t get the details right…