Michigan Reacts to EPA’s Revocation of Greenhouse Gas Report
Amid growing concerns over environmental regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency recently rescinded a pivotal 2009 federal report on greenhouse gas emissions. This decision has sparked apprehension among Michigan’s environmental advocates and officials.
The abolished report included the significant Endangerment Finding, which determined that greenhouse gases posed a threat to public health. This finding had been instrumental in shaping various federal environmental regulations, including emissions standards for both vehicles and power plants.
Bentley Johnson from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters expressed concerns about the impact of unchecked greenhouse emissions, linking them to severe weather events and health issues such as asthma and heart disease. Johnson stated, “Combined with the climate impacts you’re already seeing, with the wildfire smoke and bad air quality, getting rid of this authority could really lead to a cascading effect of lots of other standards being weakened and our air quality really going downhill fast.”
Michigan has independently established policies to safeguard its environment, including water and clean energy standards. However, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy expressed uncertainty about future regulations following the federal decision. They emphasized that the rescission “significantly affects” Michigan’s authority to manage emissions.
In a statement, the department said, “At this time, it is unclear what impact these federal changes may have on Michigan’s regulatory framework. Regardless, EGLE remains committed to protecting the environment and public health and will continue enforcing all applicable air quality rules and regulations.”
The state’s Attorney General, Dana Nessel, criticized the federal decision as “legally flawed,” accusing the government of neglecting its duty to maintain air quality. “By walking away from that duty, it is putting the physical safety and economic well-being of our communities and residents at very real risk,” Nessel declared.
President Donald Trump has long aimed to eliminate the Endangerment Finding, having previously suggested such actions last summer. According to an EPA press release, the deregulation is projected to save Americans $1.3 trillion, although specifics on how this figure was determined remain undisclosed.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin remarked, “The Trump EPA is strictly following the letter of the law, returning commonsense to policy, delivering consumer choice to Americans and advancing the American Dream. As EPA Administrator, I am proud to deliver the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history on behalf of American taxpayers and consumers.”
Some Republican figures, such as State Representative David Prestin, have endorsed the Trump administration’s move, arguing that regulations based on the Endangerment Finding have been economically detrimental. “The cost to our economy has been immense. It ushered in a completely different diesel fleet, cars, electricity, and everything got exponentially more expensive,” Prestin stated.
He suggested that Michigan and the U.S. contribute insufficiently to global emissions to warrant stringent regulations. However, the 2025 Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research report ranks the U.S. as the second-largest emitter worldwide, responsible for around 11% of global greenhouse gases. Furthermore, past EPA analyses have highlighted economic gains from emission restrictions.
Prestin advocates for a diversified energy approach, incorporating fossil fuels and nuclear energy, over solely carbon-neutral sources. Meanwhile, Michigan energy officials are increasing their focus on nuclear energy, while Johnson argues that renewable energy offers more reliability than fossil fuel imports. He also noted that addressing climate-related emergencies is costlier in the long term than regulatory compliance.
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