When it's right, you just know it.

With less than 24 hours to make their decisions, Representatives John Conyers, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick and Mark Schauer joined their colleagues in the Senate, Senators Carol Levin and Debbie Stabenow, in voicing their support for fully funding programs that will reduce dangerous diesel emissions.

President Barack Obama will be releasing another jobs creation package, and with our Michigan contingent standing up in support of this very important program, we are delighted to note that funding for this important program could be included.  Michigan ranks second in the United States in the number of people we employ in the emissions reduction manufacturing industry. This funding will ratchet that number up, creating more good paying jobs for hard-working Michiganders.

That's what a large statewide coalition of businesses, communities, faith-based groups, environmental organizations, labor unions, everyday working families and your neighbors are working together to do today.

Michigan is at a crossroads and the time for positive change is now.

That's why we're coming together: to ReEnergize Michigan!, with more renewable energy, more energy efficiency - and more clean energy jobs.

Diesel Pollution is Making Us Sick

Diesel engines are the workhorses of our economy, found in everything from ships and trains to school and city buses, construction and agricultural vehicles, long-haul trucks and many other vehicles that keep our economy humming. However, the black exhaust that pours out of diesel vehicles is a silent killer, contributing to 21,000 early deaths in the United States each year.

Diesel emissions have been shown to have 7 times the lifetime cancer risk than that posed by all the other 181 hazardous air pollutants combined.

Take Action today!

Along with our partners in the Alliance for Healthy Air, Clean Water Action is spearheading a statewide effort to reduce harmful diesel emissions by up to 90 percent.

Campaign Summary

After almost two years of debate, and much compromising, the Michigan legislature took a few halting steps down the path to our new, clean energy future when they passed a package of energy legislation on September 18th, 2008. It was clearly not strong enough, but it represents some modest gains and will push investment in renewable energy.

The following is a brief overview of key elements included in Michigan's new energy laws:

Approximately 1 million gallons of untreated waste is discharged from Kent County's failing septic systems every day. While there are a variety of reasons why residents don't properly maintain their septic systems there is one resounding reason why we should: untreated waste doesn't obey property boundaries!

Here in Michigan, our children are exposed to a staggering variety of toxic chemicals every day. Although anyone can be negatively impacted by chemicals, research has shown that children are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of chemical exposure during the periods of fetal, infant, and child development.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is the agency that is supposed to protect us from toxic chemicals, lacks the information to make sure that potential health and environmental risks of new chemicals are identified. In fact, the EPA has only required testing for less than 200 of the 62,000 chemicals being used under federal rules! As a result, many of us continue to be exposed to toxic chemicals from our air, water and soil every day.

1Sky, One Goal: Bold Federal Action On Climate Change!

1Sky was created to focus the power of millions of concerned Americans on a single goal: bold federal action by 2010 to reverse global warming based on a simple set of solutions. We're creating a movement that our leaders can't ignore!

Michigan is a crucial player in the fight for clean energy legislation on the federal level.That's why Clean Water Action supports and hosts 1Sky Michigan! That's why we need you to join.

In July 2008, the Michigan legislature approved the Great Lakes Compact (pdf) and related Michigan water bills and the Governor signed the bills into law. While the final deal fell far short of everything we wanted, Clean Water Action supported the agreement with the understanding we would continue fighting for stronger protections in the coming months.