In real estate, it’s location, location, location. In politics today, it’s jobs, jobs, jobs. Not necessarily green jobs, not clean tech jobs, just plain jobs, jobs, jobs.

If you need a reason to have your voice heard in Lansing, here are two good ones. They are recent statements by House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop that really got me going. First off, I know both these leaders personally and consider them friends. I have the utmost respect for them, which makes their statements even harder to swallow.

The Michigan Environmental Council’s successes at the State Capitol—and its current agenda in Lansing—have helped clean energy industries like Mastech Manufacturing provide new jobs and economic vitality to a state reeling from auto industry woes.

True leadership is a combination of vision and action. Today, our political leadership often lacks both. Too many leaders are stuck in the past or present, unaware or unconcerned that their decisions today will impact our nation for 40 or 50 years.

Michigan Environmental Council Policy Director James Clift spoke with the Michigan Environmental Report recently about 2008’s victories, 2009 goals, and whether he sometimes wants to strangle people over at the State Capitol. Here’s what he had to say.

Michigan Environmental Council President Lana Pollack steps down at the end of 2008 after a 12-year tenure overseeing unprecedented growth, tremendous victories for the state’s natural resources and an increasingly robust influence in the corridors of power at the State Capitol.

A victory for Michigan’s environment and economy was secured in September with the adoption of new energy efficiency programming and the state’s first renewable energy standard.

Michigan leaders need to think bigger. For decades, we’ve slipped out of national leadership on the economy, education, cultural resources and environmental protection. At best, we’re a pale shadow in the middle of the pack in each of these arenas. And we’re still bleeding.

There were few heroes and not a lot to admire in the tortuous road to Michigan’s recently passed tax, budget and policy bills. But it could have been worse, and I was among those who let out a collective sigh of relief at 4:30 AM on Oct. 1.

More than two years after the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) opened up the rulemaking process for pesticide use in Michigan, the verdict is in, and it’s not pretty.

Hoping to rouse a legislature distracted by the state’s budgetary woes, wind energy experts and entrepreneurs addressed their role in Michigan’s economy at the "Manufacturing and Developing Wind Energy Systems in Michigan" symposium held Sept. 10 and 11 at Michigan State University.

Here’s a roundup of some notable recent or pending actions on food policy in the world of policy-making, politics and research:

I’m ashamed to admit it, but at dinner time I’m a pretty lousy environmentalist. I still eat too high on the food chain (environmental-speak for red meat and other animal flesh); and I seldom organize my weekend around getting to our farmers’ market.

Michigan’s budget crisis promises to be the only game in Lansing for the foreseeable future, dominating headlines, politics and policy throughout 2007. The implications for environmental protection are foreboding: general fund money for the agencies charged with protecting Michigan’s air, land, water and public health have been dwindling since 2001, and the descent will continue for the foreseeable future.

Congress currently has before it many initiatives that could protect and restore our water resources. Your help is needed to make these initiatives become reality. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support the following bills:

Legislation signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in late 2006 outlaws several types of mercury-containing medical devices in Michigan. The move helps keep this dangerous neurotoxin out of our landfills and incinerator emissions.

Michigan ranks second in the nation in the number of billboards, according to Scenic Michigan, an affiliate of the national nonprofit group Scenic America. This proliferation of billboards attacks the visual beauty of Michigan. However, with Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s approval of new legislation, positive changes are on the way for 2007.

A new Michigan Legislature brings new opportunities to protect Michigan’s natural resources. The environmental community is already gearing up for what could shape up as a crucial year for environmental protection. Among our priorities will be the following: