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 Center protections, Line 5 protections, and preserving our natural resources. Data Center protections: We recently had a company basically move in over night and place a bitcoin operation directly across from a school in our community. This has resulted in high levels of noise pollution that now disrupts learning in the outdoor classroom and the students recess time. It is important to me to prevent more situations like this from happening throughout my district. I would like to see statewide moratoriums put in place until we can figure out how to put stronger protections in place for our rural communities and natural resources. Line 5 protections: Line 5 runs through my district and is a disaster waiting to happen. I want to see the state uphold the court’s decision to prevent the line 5 tunnel from proceeding and I would like to continue to see them held accountable for the damage they have already done in the Kalamazoo River. Preserving our natural resources: Part of my platform covers protecting our natural resources. For so many businesses in my district our natural resources like clean water to swim and fish are vital to their existence. Without them, our tourist season could not exist and there would be little to no draw to my district in the warmer months. Protecting my district and our state from destruction is necessary.
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 support continuing on the path to 100% clean energy by 2040. Although Michigan legislators in the House have worked on repealing this law, I think it is possible to stay on the path to accomplish this goal.
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?
Part of my platform covers the prevention of data centers within my district because I have seen the damage they have caused in other states. I believe the state should place a moratorium on any further data center builds until we have a clearer understanding of just how hard they would be on Michigans power supply as well as just how much water they require to function. I believe once we have these facts, we will be able to see how important it is not to allow these companies to build within Michigan at all. This issue is bipartisan within our communities and should be at the forefront of the legislative priorities.
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 would address what is preventing action and cleanup efforts and push to resolve whatever is holding those efforts up. Clean water is a human right and every single Michigander deserves access to clean, healthy drinking water.
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
Putting a hold on additional facilities would be the first step. I think it would be important for Michigan regulators to also address how our communities became overburdened in the first place and then creating a plan to alleviate those over burdened communities.
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. This is something that I want to address immediately upon entering office. These companies were recently awarded funds to compensate for damages that were done during recent weather related events and instead of passing that relief onto the consumers, they padded their pockets and requested further rate increases. Part of this issue is that too many elected officials have campaigns funded by these energy companies and will instead look the other way instead of intervening.
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 directly affects my district. I am adamantly opposed to any further expansion or projects that are put forward by Enbridge. They have a long history of oil spills and destruction followed by a short history of taking responsibility or cleaning up the destruction they have caused.
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?
When I was a single mom my water bill for my family of 4 was $30 in the community I was raising my kids. My mother still lives in the same community where the water bills have since tripled. This is unacceptable. Again, access to water is a human right and your income should not dictate your access to water. I would support legislation protections for low-income Michiganders without question.
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
I would absolutely support legislation to hold polluters accountable but it would also be a priority for me to put more preventative legislation forward that would make it harder for polluters to contaminate our land and water in the first place.