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. Climate Change — Climate change
2. Farmland Protection — Urban sprawl and farmland loss
3. Clean Water — Water quality. We must address climate change as Michigan's agricultural future depends on it as well as global impacts. We need to focus new building in urban areas to protect farmland and the environment. Clean water is a must for our Great Lakes State.
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
We do need to allow community solar in addition.
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?
State government should enact environmental guardrails to protect our water. Closed loop systems only. Also no rate increases for communities to pay for data center building. Finally require data centers to fortify our statewide grid thru increased storage capacity and installation of on site solar.
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?
I've introduced a package of bills that would dramatically help-HB 5890-5898. Testing of sludge, Relief for farmers, notification of neighbors to contamination, removal of PFAs from household products.
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?
The public service commission does this work. If the Legislature gets involved it might not be good when there is Republican control.
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?
We cannot continue to allow a 70 year old pipe to be operating in the straits.
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?
It depends. We really need a national infrastructure bank to deal with the severity and cost of these problems.
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
We need accountability. We also should provide governmental assistance for cleanups.