For Earth Week, Biden-Harris Administration Makes Historic Investment in Michigan’s Clean Energy Future
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Lansing, Mich. – To commemorate Earth Week, the Biden-Harris administration announced a slew of investments and programs aimed at boosting the clean energy economy and protecting our health and environment from the harmful effects of climate change. These initiatives are directly benefiting the people of Michigan, as outlined below.
“President Biden is the most accomplished climate president in history,” said Climate Power Interim States Managing Director André Crombie. “His administration is slashing pollution, creating opportunities for all Americans, and making Michigan’s air and water cleaner. As Earth Month comes to a close, we’re grateful for President Biden’s leadership on this issue, which stands in stark contrast to Trump’s blatant disregard for the environment, climate science, and American workers.”
White House Earth Week Climate Announcements
Monday, April 22nd (Earth Day):
- Making clean energy affordable for all Michigan residents is the goal of the “Solar for All” program, a massive federal investment in bringing solar power to low-income communities through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, part of President Biden’s historic clean energy plan. Michigan will receive $156 million to spark the installation of solar panels in disadvantaged neighborhoods across the state, saving families money in electricity costs and lowering pollution.
- President Biden launched a jobs portal for the American Climate Corps with nearly 2,000 positions across the country. In Michigan, young people can apply to work as a crew member with the YouthWork Conservation Corps in various locations across the state from Detroit to Munising. The first class of the American Climate Corps will be deployed to communities across the country in June 2024.
Tuesday, April 23rd:
- At the White House Water Summit, the Biden administration launched the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, which aims to protect, restore, and reconnect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of our nation’s rivers and streams, and a $1 billion investment in Tribal clean water projects. In Michigan, several communities across the state have joined the Freshwater Challenge as inaugural members, including the cities of Detroit, Benton Harbor and Muskegon.
Wednesday, April 24th
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a nearly $1 billion funding opportunity for cities, states and Tribes to replace Class 6 and Class 7 heavy-duty vehicles like school buses, trash trucks, and delivery trucks with zero-emissions vehicles.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published its first-ever website on Extreme Heat, which serves as a hub highlighting actions communities can take to prepare and respond to extreme heat events.
Thursday, April 25th
- The EPA finalized several major new pollution standards for power plants, including landmark carbon pollution standards for existing coal plants and new gas plants. The new standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions as well as toxic air pollution, water pollution, and land contamination from fossil fuel power plants, avoiding 1.38 billion metric tons of carbon pollution through 2047 and protecting our clean air and water. The President’s latest actions to hold polluters accountable aren’t just good for the planet, they’re overwhelmingly popular with voters.
Friday, April 26th
- The White House hosted the first-ever Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Infrastructure, highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to providing communities equitable access to energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and healthy school facilities. Alongside the summit, the White House released a toolkit that provides an overview of federal resources that can help schools achieve energy efficiency, resilience to extreme weather, and cleaner air, water, and transportation.
While President Biden is firmly on the side of the clean energy economy, the environment, and the American worker, Donald Trump is not: he gave Big Oil a $25 billion tax break, rolled back more than 100 environmental rules, and launched a war on the nation’s clean energy economy that cost jobs and stunted growth. President Biden, on the other hand, has prioritized making Big Oil pay their fair share, and created more than 271,000 jobs through his clean energy plan so far.
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