Wind and solar together surpassed coal in total U.S. electricity generation for the first time in 2024 – 17% from wind and solar vs. coal’s 15%. (hrui/Adobe Stock)
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By Chrystal Blair
July 16,,2025
Elected Officials to Protect America and the Climate Action Campaign are joining Benton Harbor leaders, highlighting how climate-smart policies improve quality of life and urging continued funding for clean energy, cleanups, and resilience projects. The work is funded by a $20-million EPA grant through the Inflation Reduction Act. Part of that funding will renovate the Bobo Brazil Community Center, turning it into a pilot microgrid alternative energy project.
Marcus Muhammad, Benton Harbor mayor, led a panel of speakers at a recent press event.
“And I stand today to preserve and protect, not just energy, but protect our democracy – because checks and balances is the glue that keeps this government together,” he contended.
Those opposed to the projects argue the billions spent on clean energy would be better used for immediate economic needs, saying the projects offer little return and may do little to slow climate change.
Rep. Joey Andrews, D-St. Joseph, stressed that the impact of the budget cuts is far reaching.
“It might be small town Benton Harbor that’s feeling this impact right now, but it’s going to be Detroit, Grand Rapids, it’s going to be Lansing, it’s going to be everywhere else that’s feeling this tomorrow, because this budget isn’t just a small hit. It’s a heat-seeking missile,” he said.
But, local officials remain optimistic, saying they are determined to move forward, even as Michigan’s attorney general joins a multistate lawsuit challenging federal cuts to clean energy funding.
Marcy Hamilton, deputy executive director with the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, talked about some of the projects.
“Construction is happening at Hall Park, that’s about a million dollar Michigan Department of Natural Resources Spark Grant – revitalizing the city’s oldest and largest park. Working with the township to put in a trail that is going to be transformational for this,” she said.
Advocates are also pushing the Ox Creek Corridor Restoration Project to clean up decades of industrial pollution in the Paw Paw and St. Joseph rivers.
