Advocacy News – Oct. 2, 2024
What’s new: Last week, the MI Chamber hosted a manufacturing roundtable that focused on key environmental regulations affecting manufacturers across the state. At stake are several rules which will likely force manufacturing operations to deal with new rounds of compliance standards, and may affect changes in operations and cost. Representatives for EPA region 5 joined the virtual meeting to discuss their approach to decision-making.
The impact: Rules surrounding particulate matter and the ozone have been in place for decades but have become increasingly stringent as the EPA continues to create more standards for air quality in different regions throughout the state.
- Southeast and west Michigan, and the business community therein, are disproportionately impacted due to population density, economic activity and even other factors like Canadian wildfires or emissions from neighboring states.
- Particularly concerning, the PM 2.5 standards, which saw a 25% percent reduction in the newest finalized standards, went from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9.
- Tailpipe emissions, also known as CAFÉ standards, have also been a focus of new restrictive rules and a focal point of a recent Congressional hearing.
Why it matters: Because the EPA is not legally required to determine costs, or trends surrounding the need for greater industrial capacity in the Midwest and other manufacturing hubs, air quality rules not in line with economic realities and innovation have the potential to stifle jobs and the ability for companies to make the investments they need to compete in the global marketplace.
What we’re saying: The MI Chamber has voiced concerns that these rules have the potential to disproportionately impact Michigan communities and should be re-considered.
What’s next: The MI Chamber will continue to monitor these efforts and educate policymakers on the unintended consequences unreasonably strict rules and regulations can have on the business community.
Go deeper: View the presentations provided by the EPA below:
- Ambient Air Quality Standards in Michigan – Particulate Matter and Ozone
- Final Standards to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Plants
Feedback needed: We welcome your feedback on how these rules could affect your business operations and ways to connect with policymakers to tell your story. Share your thoughts on this legislation with Mike Alaimo.