“It’s about putting more disposable income back in the pockets of Michigan residents.”

—David Gard, MEC energy program director on a
June 12 WNLS-TV piece on proposed renewable energy and energy efficiency legislation

“This isn’t a bad idea,” but, “You wonder if it will just become a place where disgruntled legislators send hard cases to an ombudsman to handle the complaints.”

—James Clift, MEC policy director on a proposed state environmental ombudsman reported
in the June 27 State News

“It’s a better solution than pesticides,” but “The fear is there will be unintended consequences.”

—Hugh McDiarmid, Jr., MEC communications director, in a State News story on a plan to release small,
non-native stingless wasps to try and eradicate
the emerald ash borer

“It can be a proactive tool to help build a more sustainable and vibrant forest-based economy in the U.P. because there are some really unique assets this area has to offer.”

—Brad Garmon, MEC land programs director on Marquette’s TV-6 June 20 at an MEC-led forum on changing land ownership patterns in the Upper Peninsula. He was referring to a report, in progress, on potential implications of new ownership changes.

“It’s really cool. It’s great to see all of this.”

—Jamie Weitzel, MEC’s deputy policy director, quoted
in the Great Lakes Bulletin News Service about the
Michigan Energy Fair in Onekama in late June

“Fishing and other tourism-dependent economic activities will take a hit, and neighborhoods with abandoned gas stations will continue to languish without economic development.”

—MEC President Lana Pollack in a May 30 Detroit News opinion piece, regarding the impact of wiping out the state’s $70 million fund for cleaning up leaking under-ground petroleum
tanks to help balance the budget