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.
Data Centers, Solar farms. Data centers are top of mind across the state and at least two are earmarked for this district. The greatest concern appears to be the loss of farmland; which incidentally, solar farms have likewise raised the ire of farmers who don’t seem to see the benefits of agrivoltaics. Data centers for the load on the grid and strain on groundwater.
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 would actually accelerate the timeline given the explosion of solar farms and the benefits of economies of scale. My concern is rather than displacing fossil fuels, it is ultimately being done to bring more data centers on line.
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?
I’m concerned with the all-out push to bring them online without giving adequate time to assess all of the costs, in energy requirements, water requirements, noise and light pollution; not to mention the impact on jobs.
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?
Create a firm deadline for cleanup.
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
The ultimate health risks should be enough of a rationale to support a full accounting of the impact.
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?
Absolutely. They should be required to support all such requests with hard data.
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?
While carbon air pollution can be reduced by avoiding the need to transport it overland, I’m concerned for the threat of leakage. The only way that I could even consider supporting it would be with multiple failsafe provisions.
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?
Yes.
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
“You break it, you own it.” I would advocate aggressive pursuit of accountability, including piercing the veil of subsidiaries and exploiting bankruptcy laws.