The BlueGreen Alliance in Michigan has a strong local membership of labor, environmental, and community organizations working towards creating good jobs, while protecting our environment.
About the Michigan BlueGreen Alliance
We are guided by the principle that we can no longer choose between good jobs and a clean environment—that the actions we take to create quality jobs and to protect working people and the environment must go hand-in-hand, and that together, we will build clean, thriving and fair economy.
Our Work
CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
From highlighting the efforts of Genesee County to reduce pollution, save taxpayers’ money, and create local jobs by making energy and water efficiency improvements to the county’s buildings to showing how union members are building the clean economy by installing a solar array in the state, the BlueGreen Alliance works to ensure that Michigan’s economy and environment thrive from investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
In 2016, we released a report that showed reducing energy use in Michigan’s schools, hospitals and public buildings by 20 percent will create 24,000 jobs by 2030, save $4.5 billion in energy costs, and 56,000 gigawatts of energy.
“Beyond the benefits to taxpayers, the reduction of carbon pollution, and the cost savings, these efforts also created quality jobs for workers in our area. Making our public buildings more energy efficient is something we can do right now to create jobs and reduce pollution.”
– Genesee County Board Chair Jamie W. Curtis.
REPAIRING MICHIGAN’S INFRASTRUCTURE
More than 8,000 children in Flint, Michigan, have been exposed to water contaminated by lead and other chemicals because of a decision by officials to change the source of the city’s drinking water. Aging pipes leached lead into the city’s tap water, poisoning residents and likely leading to chronic, irreversible health problems for thousands of young children there. Lead levels in drinking water are a continuing threat, not just in Flint, but in communities across the state and the country.
Investing in infrastructure won’t just help communities struggling with water quality and prevent the next Flint, but will also create good jobs for workers all around the state. In fact, an estimated 119,300 jobs could be created by making much-needed investments in roads and bridges, water, wastewater, transit, energy, and communication systems.
Key Facts
20% Reducing energy use in Michigan's schools, hospitals and public buildings by 20 percent will create 24,000 jobs by 2030. It would also save $4.5 billion in energy costs, and 56,000 gigawatts of energy. (Source)
119,000 jobs An estimated 119,300 jobs could be created by making much-needed investments in roads and bridges, water, wastewater, transit, energy, and communication systems. (Source)
>8,000 kids At least 8,000 children in Flint, Michigan, have been exposed to water contaminated by lead and other chemicals because of a decision by officials to change the source of the city’s drinking water. (Source)