An eight-bill energy package has be
en introduced by Aric Nesbitt to update Michigan’s outdated energy program.
It’s good to see more attention being paid to “renewable” energy to decrease our dependency on coal. The problem is that they want to redefine the word “renewable” to include the incineration of our trash. Though our trash is certainly a huge problem, incineration is not the answer. The incineration of trash is as primitive as burying it, one method pollutes the air; the other pollutes the ground and water.
Even with “state of the art” technology involving gasification, pyrolysis and plasma incineration, dioxins/furans are released, plus the burning of this mixed trash creates new, more toxic chemicals.
Every single atom of garbage that goes into the incinerator comes back out, just in a different form. So why should you care about dioxins/furans? These are proven endocrine disruptors, altering the metabolism of hormones and they are also known to cause a variety of cancers.
We are exposed to these primarily in our foods. Traces of dioxins go into the air, and then fall back to the earth entering our food chain.
The Michigan Public Service Commissioner states that we could reduce our consumption of electricity by one-third over the next 10 years through energy efficiency and Michigan could also achieve a renewable energy standard of 30%, given the resources we have in our state.
There are 30 states that already have energy programs using sustainable energy that is equal to or greater than Michigan’s. Renewable energy will create jobs, spark investment, reduce pollution, decrease health hazards and protect our environment.
Let’s not miss this opportunity to step into a positive energy future.
Karen Fifelski, Hopkins
