Opinion | Michigan economy needs development, use of natural gas

The COVID-19 crisis and lockdown to slow the spread of the devastating pandemic has brought our economy to the brink. However, as states around the country slowly begin to open up, the American people are looking for leaders that will prioritize growth opportunities to rejuvenate the economy and engender job creation, not stand in the way of recovery.

For elected officials, now begins the difficult work of meeting that charge, especially for our presidential candidates looking for victory in November. Michigan expects leaders to support policies that will bolster business and manufacturing instead of the gridlock that has characterized Washington for too long. That is why policies supporting the use of natural gas cannot afford to be a partisan casualty in 2020. Not only can this resource provide countless American families and business sectors with cheap, reliable energy during this highly uncertain time, but we can also continue to achieve vital environmental progress.

In Michigan, our beautiful natural landscape is both a source of pride and an economic driver through our forest products industry. Forestry is an essential part of Michigan’s economy, generating $1.3 billion worth of economic activity a year. And it’s easy to see why – the Wolverine State has more than  20 million acres of forestland, with over half located in the Upper Peninsula, taking up about 84 percent of the U.P.’s total landmass.

Michigan’s total energy consumption is relatively high, and natural gas is leading the charge to keep up with increasing demand on all fronts. Nearly 80 percent of Michigan households use natural gas as their primary heat source, and consumption of natural gas in the industrial sector, forestry included, has risen 12 percent in the last five years.

Not to mention, our industry would not be the success story that it is today without our state’s rural industries and communities, where many of our members operate and call home. Natural gas is a vital component to the rural Michigan communities we rely on, and the increasing availability and affordability of it in recent years is worth celebrating. Michigan uses more propane, a natural gas processing byproduct that is cheaper than other fuels, per home than any other state, with the U.P. using 10 percent more per household than the Lower Peninsula.

Those that criticize natural gas development in our state on environmental grounds fail to notice the longterm benefits that the industry has already provided to Michigan’s air quality and ecosystems. Michigan has cut carbon dioxide emissions by over 25 percent between 2007 and 2017 as a result of the transition from coal to natural gas consumption. This trend will certainly continue with continued usage of this transition fuel, and should be commended as an achievable yet practical solution to climate concerns.

Lawmakers should prioritize the continued development and usage of natural gas in our state. To do otherwise would be to eliminate the lifeblood of our rural communities in which many industries, including our own, call home.

While shortsighted critics of natural gas might equate any sort of energy development as an inherent hazard to our state’s beauty, we in the forestry business know through experience that environmental stewardship and economic security can go hand in hand.