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- MSU Sustainability Report: Spartans work to grow greener each year
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Saulius Mikalonis: EPA is likely here to stay, for now
- Saulius Mikalonis talks with Kirk Heinze
Mikalonis says that despite a move by some in Congress to deemphasize or even eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency, he doesn't think gutting the EPA will happen.
"People like to breath clean air and drink clean water, so I don't think pulling some teeth from the EPA will be a political winner," Mikalonis says. "Anything that gets through the House will die in the Senate or most certainly not get signed by President Obama."
"I think the GOP is that we've done a lot of good for the environment over the years and now we're spending a lot of money for marginal improvement so maybe we should just stop now. On the other hand there's a lot of science out there that says we still have a long way to go."
Mikalonis agrees with a growing school of thought that natural gas can be a bigger part of Michigan's energy portfolio in the years ahead, but he says that fracking is still an issue.
"Natural gas is a better option than coal in the minds of many," he says. "As oil prices have risen, natural gas has become a more economically attractive option."
The EPA continues to tackle the greenwashing issue and working on regulations organizations must follow to make green claims.
"Ultimately companies will have to say what they mean and not cross the line once the regulations are in place," Mikalonis says.
Mikalonis says the Asian Carp issue is far from being resolved.
"Based on who I know is involved in this issue, this thing is not going to die," he says. "People have to realize the environmental movement involves a political level as well as a legal one. This story is going to go on for awhile."
Greening of the Great Lakes airs each weekend on News/Talk 760 WJR and around the state on the Michigan Talk Network.
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