Global Warming discussed at Griffin Policy Forum

Erin Hillard

Nuclear energy and clean coal were hot topics Wednesday night at the spring 2008 Griffin Policy Forum, titled “Can Climate Change Heat Up Michigan’s Economy?”
All four panelists agreed that global warming is a serious problem that offers Michigan an opportunity to be on the leading edge in finding a solution.
“The winners will not be those who sit around arguing the causes but those who invest in the opportunity,” said Lana Pollack, President of the Michigan Environmental Council.
She said the real question to be asked in all of this is what is the risk of not investing?
Everyone had their own ideas in how to improve energy use in Michigan, starting on an individual level.
“A lot of energy demand is coming from small energy use,” said Jon Allan, Manager of Environmental and Laboratory Services for CMS Energy. “Turn off your lights and see the glow of the appliances left plugged in.”
Another panelist pointed out the difficulty in getting individuals to change.
“Before you can expect people to change, let them recognize that there is a problem,” said Michael Witt, PhD, Program Director of Energy and Climate Change for The Dow Chemical Company.
He pointed out that approximately 40 percent of climate changing gases come from buildings.
The panel talked about different policies Michigan could enact to improve energy use, including a renewable portfolio standard requiring all companies marketing energy to use a standard percentage of renewable energy.
The forum was wrapped up with the whole panel agreeing that each individual in Michigan could make a difference.
“Efficiency is the best,” Pollack said. “The cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use.”

Edited by: John Morelli and Mariah Richards