In accordance with the campaign promise from his commercial during the 2010 election season, "We'll dump that tax, thin the regulations and jobs will come back," Snyder must review the Wolverine air quality permit denial.

A brief synopsis, in case this post gets to the governor-elect's desk.

In May, 2006, Wolverine Energy announced they were seeking to build a base-load clean coal plant in Rogers City, within the largest limestone quarry in the world, which would take advantage of both the limestone for the scrubbing process, and the deep-sea port for the transport of supplies.  An air quality permit was sought in September of 2007.  A battle ensued with local and national environmental groups, but the process of the most important permit needed for installation of the plant continued when the Michigan DEQ held public hearings and announced that the proposed top-of-the-line clean coal base-load plant was environmentally sound, in October of 2008.  All the data was reviewed, the townspeople were assured that even the scientists sitting in front of them, were completely comfortable with the idea of raising their families in Rogers City with the coal plant in operation.  In January of 2009, Jennifer Granholm issued her plans to make Michigan "green" and discontinue coal as a source of power, replacing it with conservation and wind/solar energy.  She issued an executive order that said that all coal plant permit applications will have to go through the MPSC, but that EO was challenged as unconstitutional by then AG Mike Cox and had to be rescinded. Nevertheless, it was the MPSC that determined that the clean coal plant be denied installation, citing that Wolverine "failed to demonstrate the plant was needed to meet future supply needs," a finding that was not true, nor in accordance with the law.  The Granholm administration continually moved the target on this permit application, and in the end, denied it ignoring the law and scientific fact.

The process of getting an air quality permit, or permit to install from the DEQ was knee-capped by three main reasons.  One, the administration sat on the permit for 2 years and 8 months, a typical permit takes 3 months to 1 1/2 years.  Two, the DEQ no longer existed to issue the permit, even though they approved the air quality in October of 2008.  Three, Jennifer Granholm acted unlawfully and against scientific fact when she used faulty predictions of need, relying on the MPSC rather than the DEQ.

The northeastern lower peninsula has some of the highest unemployment numbers in the state.  That plant would have generated 2,000+ jobs within the first year of installation, and put our city and townships at a tax revenue level never before seen here.  It was unlawfully denied by an administration with absolutely no thought of improving our economy and our energy future.