Michigan residents! Join us in contacting your state senators and state representatives today to demand an end to the prohibition on Dark Sky Preserves in the Upper Peninsula!
Senator Ed McBroom senemcbroom@senate.michigan.gov — (517) 373-7840
Senator John Damoose senjdamoose@senate.michigan.gov — (517) 373-2413
Representative David Prestin DavePrestin@house.mi.gov — (517) 373-0156
Representative Karl Bohnak KarlBohnak@house.mi.gov — (517) 373-0498
Representative Parker Fairbairn ParkerFairbairn@house.mi.gov — (517) 373-2629
Representative Greg Markkanen GregMarkkanen@house.mi.gov — (517) 373-0850
“Hello,
I am writing / calling today in order to request that you amend Michigan's Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act 451 of 1994 to remove the prohibition on Dark Sky Preserves in the Upper Peninsula. This prohibition unfairly demotes the Upper Peninsula to a second-class region by banning state lands from capitalizing upon an economic avenue which is freely available in Lower Michigan. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is actively promoting astrotourism in Michigian, and the U.P. has some of the purest night skies in the Midwest — permitting Dark Sky Preserves will allow communities both to protect them and profit from them. The law already states that these Preserves would not restrict development, so they would have no negative economic consequences on the Upper Peninsula. To the contrary, dark sky tourism is a four-season industry which would greatly benefit both the ecology and the economy. Please end the prohibition as soon as possible!"
If you are asked specifically which part of the Act contains the prohibition, here is the full title:
You might emphasize how much you would love to spend your tourist dollars visiting a U.P. Dark Sky Preserve.
Protect the Porkies