With Earth Day just around the corner, we’d like to share with you an article and photo slideshow of Congressman Dingell, posted by the Detroit Free Press as part of their ’2011 Michigan Green Leaders’ awards.

Dingell won the distinction of Green Leader for his long tenure as a champion of conservation in the U.S. Congress. His integral work in authoring, crafting and passing the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act – our nation’s platform environmental laws – distinguished him early on as the preeminent voice in protecting our nation’s rich natural bounty.

Dingell’s fight to protect the environment has continued simultaneously as he’s worked to provide business-friendly conditions for the domestic auto industry on which so many of his constituents depend for jobs.  The Detroit Free Press article notes, “John Dingell hasn’t always been environmentalists’ most darling member of Congress.” This is precisely because of his bold efforts to work towards solutions on these two, seemingly contradictory issues.

But through innovative, forward thinking approaches, Dingell has effectively moved Michigan towards both a healthy environment and a healthy business sector, showing that the two are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary aims.

The evidence speaks for itself: the auto industry survived a near-fatal recession and is growing again thanks to Dingell’s work to include investments for green technology incentives and retooling in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). In effect, Michigan has gone further than emerging from the global economic downturn with its identity intact as auto capitol of the world. Now Michigan is expanding as a hub for lithium-ion battery production and energy-efficient electric cars, and clean energy producers like Ann Arbor’s ACCIO Energy, Inc. are popping up in the 15th District and across the State. We have a long way to go, but Congressman Dingell is working every day to move Michigan forward with a green technology economy.

The Detroit Free Press article also notes Congressman Dingell’s ongoing work on the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. The wetlands on which the Refuge sits were once some of the most polluted in the country, having endured decades of ecological damage from nearby factories. Dingell worked long and hard to have the land restored to its natural state and in 2001, establish it as the first international wildlife refuge in the world. Congressman Dingell and his staff continue to facilitate public-private partnerships to grow the Refuge – both in size and ecological diversity – so that we in Southeast Michigan can enjoy a wild natural space in our own backyard for generations to come.

Congressman Dingell is honored to be named a 2011 Michigan Green Leader for his work as a champion of conservation. He is committed to continuing the fight to protect our natural heritage because he believes that just like a healthy national credit rating, a healthy environment is something that future generations of Americans rightfully deserve to inherit.

Click below to read the Detroit Free Press article and see the slideshow:

John Dingell: Dean of the U.S. House a force behind pro-environment laws