DETROIT – State Representative Gabe Leland (D-Detroit) will celebrate Earth Day by hosting an eco-friendly bus tour around Detroit on Friday, April 20, and participating in a cleanup and education day at Cass Park on Saturday, April 21.
Leland's "Energy Efficiency Tour" of Detroit starts at noon Friday at NextEnergy in Detroit's TechTown.
"Detroit is on the cutting edge of environmentally friendly and environmentally responsible technology," Leland said. "Stakeholders who are trying to decide whether to invest in our city need to see that Detroit's automotive heritage is not stuck in the past – we are moving into the 21st century and beyond by focusing on technologies of the future. Likewise, residents who want to move to an exciting metropolis need to know that Detroit has a bright and prosperous future ahead of it."
Residents from around southeast Michigan will join Leland on a General Motors hybrid bus for the tour, which starts at NextEnergy in Detroit's TechTown. There, NextEnergy's Chuck Moeser will talk about the cutting-edge work he is doing on environmentally friendly fuel technology. Moeser will be joined by students he works with in Wayne State University's innovative alternative-energy engineering program.
The tour also includes the Model T Automotive Heritage Complex, the new Rosa Parks Transit Center, a transportation exhibit at the Skillman Branch of the Detroit Public Library, and other sites.
"We live in a day and age where we must be responsible global citizens and pair innovation with eco-friendly, energy efficient products," said Leland, who serves on the both the House Transportation Committee and the Great Lakes and Environment Committee.
"GM's hybrid bus is one of those innovations, and the tour will showcase much more of what Detroit has to offer as an eco-friendly city," Leland said.
For more information or to join the bus tour, contact Leland's office at (866) 525-4223 or Leland at home at (313) 441-3763.
Leland also invites residents to join him Saturday at a cleanup and educational day sponsored by the volunteer organization Recycle Detroit. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, in Cass Park and includes beautification of Cass Corridor, music and street performers, a fashion show of recycled clothing by Cass Tech Fashion Club, and a parade on Second Avenue. Residents can learn more at www.recycledetroit.com.
"Young people are leading the way in finding creative and innovative ways to take care of the Earth, and I'm excited about being part of that," Leland said. "These two days of events offer a great opportunity for everybody to come together and learn about positive things that Detroit and its residents are doing."