BROOKLYN, Mich. (April 24, 2015) — Michigan International Speedway and Consumers Energy announced a joint venture with the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to impact the entire state at the Michigan Arbor Day Celebration at Potter Park Zoo.
The two companies formed a partnership to provide 50,000 trees to the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to be planted across Michigan. It is part of an effort between the track and electric company to get On Track to a Greener Michigan.
The 50,000 white pine trees were split among all 78 conservation districts throughout the state of Michigan. The districts have already planted many of the allocated pines this spring during peak planting times in public accessible areas that can be enjoyed by everybody. The remaining trees will be planted in the fall when conditions are more conducive to the survival of trees.
MIS annually introduces programs that have made an immediate impact on the environment.
“MIS takes great pride in knowing that our green initiatives have made a significant, positive impact to the environment and sport of auto racing, and we continue to do different things to move forward with those initiatives,” MIS President Roger Curtis said. “It’s the right thing to do to protect our environment. Our brand at MIS is very much an environmentally friendly one and our partnership with Consumers Energy makes that even easier.”
“We have adopted sustainability as a company-wide goal. Our employees do their jobs with a fundamental commitment to leave our company and state better than we found them,” Consumers Energy’s Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Garrick Rochow said. “With the help of Michigan International Speedway, we are striving to fulfill the needs and wants of our generation without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.”
Michigan International Speedway last year became the largest participant in Consumers Energy’s Green Generation, matching 100 percent of its electricity use with renewable energy. Close to 20,000 homes and businesses in Michigan participate in Green Generation, contributing each month to purchase power from renewable sources, all made in Michigan. Consumers Energy will continue to educate guests at MIS about energy efficiency in their own homes.
MIS is the first facility in all of motorsports and one of the first sporting venues in the country to join the EPA’s Green Power Partnership and offset its energy use from green power. The green power is generated by a partnership with the local utility, Consumers Energy. The track uses nearly five million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization’s electricity use.
Consumers Energy has adopted sustainability as a company-wide goal. That means it operates with a fundamental commitment to leave the company and state better than it found them. It strives to fulfill the needs and wants of our generation without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same.
“MACD is pleased to be working with Consumers Energy and Michigan International Speedway on the On Track to a Greener Michigan,” MACD Executive Director Lori Phalen said. “Through our local Conservation Districts, we have been able to connect school groups, scout groups and local volunteer organizations to this program, with seedling trees being planted in urban and rural areas throughout our great state. For Michigan Conservation Districts this program is a logical extension of their work as local providers of natural resource management services that help our citizens conserve their lands and our environment for a cleaner, healthier, economically stronger Michigan.”
The announcement was part of the 20th annual Michigan Arbor Day Celebration at Potter Park in Lansing, Michigan. This event brought over 1,100 students and 24 organizations from throughout mid-Michigan to celebrate trees and natural resources.
“MADA is excited to partner with Michigan International Speedway and Consumers Energy in this great initiative,” State Arbor Day Coordinator Jennifer Hunnell said. “Planting trees and being good caretakers of our natural resources is what MADA is all about. This is a fantastic way to expand our presence in the state and we thank MIS and Consumers for this opportunity.”
The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a coalition of organizations and agencies dedicated to the promotion and celebration of Arbor Day throughout Michigan. The Michigan Arbor Day Alliance is a program of the Eaton Conservation District in Charlotte, Michigan and is made possible through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest utility, providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
Nestled in the lush Irish Hills of Southeastern Michigan, Michigan International Speedway is the Great Escape, a venerable NASCAR national park where fans can get away and enjoy the very best in racing and camaraderie. It’s the love of racing and the thrill of a great time for race fans and drivers alike.
PHOTO: Michigan International Speedway and Consumers Energy announced a partnership to provide 50,000 trees to the Michigan Association of Conservation Districts to be planted across Michigan. It is part of an effort between the track and electric company to get On Track to a Greener Michigan. The announcement was made Friday at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing. The 50,000 white pine trees were split among all 78 conservation districts throughout the state of Michigan. The districts have already planted many of the allocated pines this spring during peak planting times in public accessible areas that can be enjoyed by everybody. The remaining trees will be planted in the fall when conditions are more conducive to the survival of trees. Photo from left: Brad Kuhbander, manager of media relations for Michigan International Speedway, introduces Roger Curtis, president of Michigan International Speedway; Doug Tamboer, Sustainability Director for Consumers Energy; Lori Phalen, Executive Director of Michigan Association of Conservation Districts; and Andrea Stay, Executive Director of Eaton (County) Conservation District. (Photo by Michigan International Speedway.)
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2015 Michigan International Speedway Schedule:
Friday, Saturday 8 SPEEDWAY STOMP™ 5K paced by Experience Jackson
Saturday, May 9 Michigan Wine and Beer Fest presented by Experience Jackson
Friday, June 12 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Corrigan Oil 200 and Sprint Cup Qualifying
Saturday, June 13 NASCAR XFINITY Series
Sunday, June 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400
July 17-19 Faster Horses Festival
Friday, Aug. 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Practice and Qualifying
Saturday, Aug. 15 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Careers for Veterans 200 presented by The Cooper Standard Foundation & Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation
Sunday, Aug. 16 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400
