Downriver Today

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced a guide known as the MI Healthy Climate Plan, a guide that hopes to obtain widespread carbon neutrality by 2050 with 2030 objectives.

“Ford is leading the electric vehicle revolution, investing more than $50 billion in electric vehicles through 2026, committing to carbon neutrality no later than 2050, and bringing exciting, all-electric versions of America’s most popular vehicles to market, including the all-new, all-electric F-150 Lightning,” said Cynthia Williams, global director of Sustainability, Homologation and Compliance at Ford and member of the Council on Climate Solutions. 

Williams added that the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn would be paramount to the company ushering in the era of EV vehicles. 

According to a news release by the governor’s office, Gov. Whitmer made the announcement at a large solar array in Traverse City alongside Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), business owners, tribal leaders, and students.  

“This is a uniquely Michigan plan. It was shaped by a multitude of Michiganders with varied perspectives on climate change,” said Liesl Clark, EGLE Director. “We heard from environmental justice, public transit, local food, and climate action advocates; an array of business and labor leaders; academic experts and local government officials; and concerned residents of all political persuasions and walks of life. The resulting MI Healthy Climate Plan will be a game-changer for Michigan’s economy and environment. It is a bold plan that a broad cross-section of Michiganders can rally around.”

The release reported that the plan will create over 10,000 jobs, spark economic opportunities and enhance public health.  

“The Michigan Healthy Climate Plan is a bold first step toward mitigating the worst impacts of climate change while advancing opportunity, justice, and health. We have a long way to go, but this plan moves us quickly to get onto the right path,” said Phil Roos, CEO of Great Lakes GrowthWorks and Co-Chair of the Council on Climate Solutions. “Kudos to Governor Whitmer for her leadership in setting goals that match the magnitude of the challenge, and to her and EGLE Director Clark for putting in place a collaborative process that gave voice to an incredibly wide range of perspectives. 

Roos added that the plan positions the state to be a clean energy leader while promoting jobs and mitigating reliance on carbonization.

Along with the building on the suggestions of municipalities and tribal communities, the private sector will also have input, according to the release.

 “Hemlock Semiconductor’s core focus on driving sustainability and combating climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of our products and manufacturing processes is aligned with Governor Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan,” said Steven Holty, Hemlock Semiconductor Sustainability leader and co-chair of the Energy Intensive Industries Workgroup for the Council on Climate Solutions.