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Dear Friend,??
Happy Earth Month! I am proud to celebrate a huge investment in our most precious natural resource ? Michigan?s water. Every family in Michigan deserves access to safe drinking water. Since day one, I have made protecting our water and our lakes a priority.
This Earth Day, we announced a $290 million expansion of the MI Clean Water Plan, investing voter-approved bonds to help communities across Michigan build up their water infrastructure. These resources will help communities across the state ensure safer, cleaner, and more affordable drinking water and water management resources for their residents through an expansion of the state?s low-interest loan offerings. This will also help us make much-needed repairs on aging systems by replacing lead service lines, upgrading wastewater plants, and making improvements to sewer systems.
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On Monday, I visited the Delta Township Water Resource Recovery Facility. The plant was built almost 60 years ago and was not updated until the ?80s. A few years ago, the plant was almost at capacity with aging equipment holding Delta Township back from expanding access to water. Last year, we began new improvements to the facility to help meet the demand for clean water for the growing population of Delta Township. Investments like the one we have made this week will allow us to stay up to date with addressing critical infrastructure and ensure clean water to communities across Michigan.
Since I took office, we have invested over $4 billion to upgrade drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater facilities, supporting over 57,000 jobs, helping communities remove lead service lines, reduce toxic contaminants like PFAS, rehabilitate water plants, rebuild sewers, and so much more. Together, with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), we also established health-based standards for PFAS and enforced the e country. Over the past few years, we signed bipartisan legislation to help communities access funding for water infrastructure and to ensure children in schools and childcare centers have access to clean drinking water.?
To keep protecting our planet, we have also taken big steps to become a leader in the future of clean energy and climate action. Last year, I signed a game-changing package of clean energy legislation that enacted a 100% clean energy standard by 2040 and efficiency upgrades to lower costs for consumers. We are creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs while protecting our planet and public health.??
I am proud of the steps my administration has taken to protect our water and our planet. I will work with anyone to get more shovels in the ground and build or repair critical water infrastructure. Together, let?s protect access to clean drinking water, lower water bills for families and communities, and fight for our most precious natural resource.?
Sincerely,??
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
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