MiCCA rallies at the Michigan State Capitol in support of energy solutions that protect health

Dr. Aisha Harris, a family doctor from Flint and MiCCA member, gave a powerful testimony on the Michigan Capitol steps on Sept. 10, 2025. We are grateful for Dr. Harris' leadership and commitment to her patients and community.

Read her full statement below:

"Good morning. My name is Dr. Aisha Harris. I am a family medicine doctor from Flint, Michigan, and every day I see how the environment around us directly impacts the health of my patients. I am here today because the decisions made in Michigan—by our legislators—can either protect or endanger the well-being of families across our state. When we talk about health, too often the conversation stops at hospitals, clinics, and prescriptions.

But health begins long before my patients walk through my office doors. It begins with the air we breathe, the energy that heats our homes, the buses that carry people to work, and the opportunities we create to share resources across our communities. That’s why I am urging our legislators to support community solar, public transportation, and affordable and dependable energy in Michigan.

These are not just environmental policies—they are health policies.

Too many Michigan families cannot afford to install rooftop solar panels, even though clean, renewable energy would save them money and reduce pollution.

Community solar projects allow neighbors to share in local solar farms, cutting energy bills and reducing the burning of coal and gas. Less pollution means fewer cases of asthma, fewer heart attacks, and fewer premature deaths. For children in Flint, Detroit, and across Michigan, it means being able to run and play without gasping for air.

Dependable buses and safe routes are more than a convenience— they are lifelines.

When people have reliable transportation, they can get to work, to school, and yes, to their doctor’s appointments. Lack of transportation is one of the most common reasons patients miss checkups and medications. Strong public transit reduces car dependence, which also cuts air pollution and traffic injuries.

92% of Michiganders agree fossil fuels harm air quality, And over 1 in 3 households report related health problems from poor air quality. Replacing dirty fuels like coal with clean, reliable energy will protect public health and ensure our children grow up breathing cleaner air. Michigan’s asthma rate is 10% higher than the national average, with children, seniors, and low-income communities most at risk.

A healthier, more connected Michigan is possible when people can move safely and affordably.

In Michigan, winters are harsh, summers are getting hotter, and too many households face shut-offs or unaffordable bills.

Our Michigan energy infrastructure needs work.

We need affordable and dependable energy. Clean energy laws would rejuvenate cities. When families can’t keep the heat on, children and seniors suffer. When power outages drag on for days, people dependent on medical equipment are put in danger. Hospitals are stressed in emergency rooms as they face “electrical emergencies” due to an increased influx of patients during power outages.

Reliable, affordable energy is not a luxury—it is a basic health need.

By investing in resilient and renewable energy, we can protect vulnerable residents and save lives while lowering costs for everyone. I want to be clear: these are not abstract policy debates.

These decisions mean the difference between whether an elderly patient of mine ends up in the hospital from heat stroke during a blackout, or whether she stays safe at home. They mean whether a child grows up with healthy lungs, or whether he carries an inhaler for life. They mean whether families in Flint and beyond will continue to pay the price of environmental neglect—or whether they will nally be given a chance to thrive.

Legislators have the responsibility, and the opportunity, to act.

Supporting community solar, expanding public transportation, and ensuring affordable, dependable energy will not only strengthen our economy—it will save lives.

As a doctor, my oath is to protect health.

As lawmakers, your oath is to protect the people of Michigan.

Let’s stand together and invest in solutions that keep our communities healthy, resilient, and strong. Thank you.