‘We are not going to back down’: Whitmer defends climate action amid Trump attacks

DETROIT, MI — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says the state isn’t backing down from its goal to reach carbon neutrality over the next quarter century despite a federal government that has put efforts to combat climate change in the crosshairs.

“The frontlines in the fight for climate action is us, it’s us in the states,” Whitmer told hundreds gathered in Detroit for the 2025 MI Healthy Climate Conference on Wednesday, April 23. “I’m not abandoning our climate goals, and I know you’re not either.”

At the conference, the Democratic governor and top state officials expressed confidence in Michigan’s plan to drastically slash planet-warming emissions, pointing to major steps like a 2023 law state Democrats passed to require utilities transition to 100% “clean” energy by 2040.

That’s despite a recent order from President Donald Trump raising the possibility that his Department of Justice will attack state climate laws in court — a move Whitmer referenced on Wednesday.

“I’ve got news for you, we are not going to back down,” she said.

Her remarks amounted to clear rebuke of Trump policy, weeks after a visit the governor paid to the White House thrust her into a national debate about if, or to what extent, Democrats should try to work with the president to advance their priorities.

Trump’s administration has taken aim at billions in Joe Biden-era investments in renewable energy, pledged to roll back pollution controls protecting air and water and attempted to gut his predecessor’s efforts to slow global warming.

Under Biden, Michigan worked hand-in-hand with the White House, Whitmer said, by some accounts leading the nation in clean energy investments and job creation.

“Now, we have a government that calls climate change a hoax and wants to repeal clean energy investments, slow growth and they’re skirting legal processes to cut hundreds of policies that help protect our air, land and lakes from pollution, waste and dangerous chemicals.”

On Wednesday, the governor used her appearance at the climate conference to announce the statewide launch of a program offering up to 15,000 households funding for home energy efficiency upgrades and rebates for new electric appliances, like stoves and heat pumps.

Across both parts of the new program, prioritized for low-income Michiganders, households could get up to $34,000 in rebates, officials said.

The rollout is powered by money Michigan received from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, Biden’s signature climate law, which has become a punching bag for the Trump administration and some Congressional Republicans.

Michigan state officials said the funding not only helps the planet but also Michiganders’ pocketbooks.

“When you put that in the hands of actual citizens and communities, and they’re saving $200 or $300 a year on their electric bills, and the air is cleaner in their community and all these other things, people don’t want that taken away,” said Phil Roos, director of Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, or EGLE.

Roos said Michigan is on “solid ground” when it comes to climate action thanks to state law, brushing aside concerns that Trump’s hostility to the policies could undermine Michigan’s goals.

“I realize there’s political dynamics that are different, there’s a lot of noise coming out. We’re just going to stay the course,” he said.

Through Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan has challenged federal claw backs in court, mostly successfully, added Cory Connolly, Michigan’s chief climate officer. None of EGLE’s climate-related federal funding is currently frozen, he said, though the state is aware of nonprofits unable to access grants and is helping connect them with legal resources.

Climate advocates applauded Whitmer’s stance on Wednesday.

“We are pleased the governor is standing strong for climate action and continuing to support the hard work of thousands of grassroots advocates in the frontlines advancing our renewable energy future,” said Denise Keele, executive director of the Michigan Climate Action Network.

MLive Environmental Reporter Sheri McWhirter contributed reporting.

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