On February 4th, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2019-2 that would restructure the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), renaming it the “Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy”.  The newly organized Department would include new offices of Climate and Energy, Clean Water Public Advocate and Environmental Justice Advocate.  The part of the Order that reportedly most concerned conservatives was the abolition of industry dominated panels created last year by legislation (opposed by MUUSJN) that could make decisions on permits and rules. The panels, which have the power to overrule decisions by the Department Director, were described by environmental activists as “polluter panels”. On February 6th, the Michigan House (on a party-line vote) passed HCR 1 that would reject the Governor’s order.  Reportedly, their main concern […]