LANSING – The Great Lakes Compact and ensuing water withdrawal legislation are officially out of the hands of the Legislature as the House wrapped up its work on the legislation Thursday. That follows work completed by the Senate the day prior on the legislative package.
The House concurred in Senate changes to the bills and sent onto the governor HB 4343 (92-14), HB 5065 (106-0), HB 5066 (95-11), HB 5067 (84-22), HB 5069 (84-22) and HB 5073 (96-10).
“Today’s action will ensure that the Great Lakes and Michigan’s inland lakes and streams will remain protected for generations to come,” said Rep. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor). “Environmental protection is not only critical to our citizens’ health and that of our natural resources, but also to that of our three biggest industries that rely on the Great Lakes: manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. By protecting the waters that define us, we are protecting our jobs, our farms and the very features that make Michigan a special and unique place to live.”
ENERGY MEASURES: The House also approved HB 5746 (107-1) and SB 1380 (102-6). The legislation designates six of the current energy renaissance zones for cellulosic ethanol firms and allows the state to allocate $18.7 million from the 21st Century Jobs Fund (created in 2005 to promote development of high tech industries in the state) to create centers for energy excellence in Michigan.
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