Planet Detroit Candidate Survey
What are the three most pressing environmental issues facing the communities you seek to serve? Please rank them in order of priority and briefly explain why you chose each.
1. Infrastructure — The Levy Mine project proposed for development in Springfield Township is one of immediate concern. A 480+ acre gravel pit will increase noise pollution, damage unequipped infrastructure and threaten paradise in Northwest Oakland County.
2. Excessive development puts — Excessive development puts our rural, back-country qualities at risk. With a focus on preserving these aspects of our home, we can promote valuable development without sacrificing our tranquility.
3. Protecting our biodiversity — Protecting our biodiversity is necessary to maintain our rural roots. I support laws like those in Texas and Maryland that guarantee property owners rights to low impact landscaping, fostering biodiversity while simultaneously promoting beautification.
Michigan law requires utilities to reach 100% clean energy by 2040. If elected, would you support maintaining this law, or would you support revising or repealing it? Please explain your position.
Maintain the current law and timeline
I fully support the preservation of this law. Not only will these requirements inspire eco-conscious investments and produce jobs, but it keeps Michigan ahead of the curve in the movement towards renewable energy.
More than two dozen Michigan communities are considering or have approved large-scale data center developments. These facilities can consume as much electricity as a small city and place significant demands on local water and energy infrastructure. What role should state government play in overseeing data center development, and what guardrails should the state legislature enact to protect communities where data centers are proposed?
The Michigan Legislature has a responsibility to protect every Michigander from inequitable utility price hikes. That is why I support a temporary hold on data center development. Data center operators and utility companies need to guarantee communities will not be harmed by increased utility costs long-term and maintain beneficence for anyone impacted by data centers.
PFAS contamination has been detected in drinking water, groundwater, and surface water across Michigan. Cleanup efforts are underway, but many affected communities are still waiting for action. What is the single most important step the officeholder in this position should take on PFAS in the next term?
PFAS, also known as "Forever Chemicals", are a serious concern for communities across the state. Because of the proven dangers PFAS have to our quality of life, I support organizations like MPART and their collaborations such as the MSU-MPART Farm Response Program that provides free testing for farmers across the state. While these programs help protect communities, the state still needs updated standards. This includes increased regulations on PFAS in certain household products and requiring EGLE to notify every household and business within a mile of a site when investigating potential contamination.
Michigan residents in some communities face disproportionate exposure to air pollution, contaminated water, and industrial waste. Do you support requiring Michigan regulators to assess cumulative environmental and health impacts on overburdened communities before approving new permits for polluting facilities?
Yes
Utility rate cases directly affect what Michigan residents pay for electricity and gas. DTE and Consumers Energy have requested frequent significant rate increases in recent years. Should elected officials play a greater role in holding utility companies accountable for rate hikes and rising energy costs?
Without question. I am a proud supporter of rooftop solar and the MI Solar for All program. I would love to see greater access to privately owned solar, where homeowners can power their own home and participate in buyback programs, selling their excess summertime energy via outflow credit back to the power company, recouping their investment. Initiatives like these protect the consumer from excessive energy bills by reducing costs on their utilities and empowering the homeowner.
Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline runs through the Straits of Mackinac and carries crude oil and natural gas liquids between Wisconsin and Ontario. A proposed tunnel beneath the lakebed to house a replacement pipeline has faced legal and regulatory challenges for years. What is your position on the future of Line 5?
Enbridge’s Line 5 is not getting any younger, and while I agree updates are needed to limit environmental risk, the voting populous will maintain support for renewable energy. As Michigan’s Big 3 continue to invest in electric vehicles, and as the state legislature allocates more funds to implement charging stations, eventually Line 5 will lose its value. Even so, many residents rely on propane for heating in our Northwoods communities. That is why I support state and energy company initiatives investing in alternatives to Line 5, better preparing residents across Michigan for a future with renewable solutions without significant impact to propane prices.
Drinking water is becoming increasingly unaffordable for Michiganders in both rural and urban areas, leading to water shutoffs. Would you support legislation that caps water bills for low-income Michiganders and adds shutoff protections?
Absolutely. Whether you live in rural or urban America, access to affordable water can be a challenge. Michigan lawmakers have proposed bipartisan legislation to create a dedicated fund to improve water affordability across the state. I support these initiatives, Senate Bill 248-256, striving for guaranteed water access in Michigan homes.
Michigan is home to more than 18,000 contaminated sites. Do you support or oppose legislation to hold polluters accountable for cleaning up these sites?
Support
This legislation has my full support. While it is the responsibility of government agencies like EGLE to enforce regulations, polluters must take responsibility for any negligence and clean up after their own waste.