Sour On Cherry (1.00 / 1)

At the Governor's breakfast at the Holiday Inn in Traverse City this past weekend, a close friend engaged Mr. John Cherry in conversation about coal fired power plants. Quite distressing to this full-time environmental activist, Mr. Cherry seemed to spit back standard 'industry' phrasing.  For instance, "a renewable energy portfolio is where you throw out economics and mandate renewable energy" and "coal is part of the future, we have to have that base load". The use of the word 'mandate' is particularly troublesome, as I have heard it used all too often coming from Republican lips when trying to dish dirt on environmental issues.

Mr. Cherry went on to lecture that what we need to do is to not have Michigan residents fighting about not being 'green' enough, but to concentrate on changing the minds of those who are not green.  The suggestion was made to Mr. Cherry that we just concentrate on changing the minds of those who are in the position to make decisions, since the time available to make a difference does not allow a mass education effort.  He said that Michigan is trying to attract green industry.  Asked if he knew why the American Wind Energy Association just ridiculed the House energy package as being a corporate giveaway and would not attract green industry to this state......He quickly moved on.

Too bad Mr. Cherry wasn't able to stay for the whole event. After he slipped out the back door, local hero Dean Robb announced that Kathleen Sabelius, Governor of Kansas, was coming to Leelanau County for an Obama fundraiser.  In the coal opposition world Ms. Sabelius is a real hero who has stood up against coal fired power plants for her state.  She stood fast against partisan attacks from her legislature and stopped new coal as a human health threat due to CO2 emissions and climate change.  Mr. Robb mentioned that the Kansas Governor is on the short list for vice president in an Obama administration.  Too bad the executive branch in this state is apparently anchored to industry and unwilling to seek a bold leadership role.

At this point, with Cherry's acquiescence to the coal industry, the Green Party keeps looking better and better if Mr. Cherry is the Democratic choice for governor in 2010.

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by: Benziemom @ Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 08:05:32 AM CDT

Last night (4.00 / 2)

I was (briefly) watching C-SPAN coverage of the Green Party convention in Chicago, where Cynthia McKinney, former Democratic Representative from Georgia, accepted their nomination for president. As I listened to her acceptance speech, I kept agreeing with her, saying in the back of my mind, "Yeah! Preach it! But... I hope you don't succeed in building the Green vote."

Because with our plurality voting system, the Green's success comes at our expense, and the expense of all of our progressive candidates, values, and issues. I wish it were not so, but it is.

Sooner or later I'm going to write here about alternative voting systems (if I can find a hook to relate it to W Michigan :> ), but for now, this is the reality we have to work with.

I am disappointed to read John Cherry's remarks about a renewable portfolio standard, but that means we need to work more to change his (and others) mind about this. Kalamazoo Rep. Robert Jones has been a leader in the House in proposing RPS, and has a great relationship with the local environmental community.

We need to get off coal as soon as possible. We can't begin to control GHG emissions without doing that, and sequestration has not yet been shown to be anything other than a pipe dream. A new Administration and increasing international pressure will mean that economic force will be brought to bear to move away from coal. It may not be fast enough, but it will happen.

But not, paradoxically, if too many people vote Green.

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by: memiller @ Mon Jul 14, 2008 at 10:50:36 AM CDT

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Governor's breakfast (4.00 / 2)

Your friend and I did have a very spirited discussion at the Governor's breakfast in Traverse City.  Quite frankly, I was bothered by his assertion that our Governor opposes alternative energy.  The facts are quite to the contrary.  She has advocated for a strong Renewable Portfolio Standard in the Energy Package because she knows that will be necessary to attract the alternative energy industry.  She was worked overtime to encourage alternative energy companies to locate here in Michigan.  Some of her successes such as United Solar Ovonic in Greenville, the new wind farm in Michigan's Thumb, and Hemlock Semiconductor in Saginaw County are representative of what she has accomplished.

A Renewable Portfolio Standard is a mandate and it is the right step towards reducing this State's carbon footprint.  It establishes the demand necessary to make wind generation, solar power, and new forms of hydro generation economically viable.  To succeed in changing Michigan's energy profile, we have to change the economics of energy generation.

In that context, I do think your friend would accomplish much more in calling the Republican Senate to task for their failure to enact a meaningful Renewable Portfolio Standard instead of spending his time at events criticizing the Governor for not being green enough.

You are correct.  It is too bad that I had to leave before Dean Robb spoke.  I always enjoy hearing Dean.  Unfortunately, Carl Levin and I both needed to leave to get to the parade lineup.    

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by: johncherry @ Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 09:36:07 AM CDT

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Everyone Read The Above Post by LG Cherry! (4.00 / 1)

OK, I've always heard that John Cherry is a straight-shooter and a tough negotiator so I've always had a high opinion of the LG, but that above post just launched his stock through the roof!

Very few elected officials blog, fewer actually do it themselves, fewer still engage in a real, open dialog with blogger-citizens, and almost no politician would come back to a blog thread five days later to answer a very tough question.  

And yet, here is John Cherry himself standing firm for his governor and for their environmental and green jobs policy which they have pushed hard and will continue to enact with our support.

Lt. Governor, you're welcome any and everytime here at West Michigan Rising!

Join the Rising: Sign up for a WMR Account Today, it's free and private

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by: philgoblue @ Wed Jul 16, 2008 at 10:12:02 AM CDT

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