November Partner Highlight: Citizens Resistance Against Fermi Two
To read more about the region-wide work of our partners, check out our November newsletter. This month’s partner highlight features Citizens Resistance Against Fermi Two (CRAFT) who are building a true renewable energy future in southeastern Michigan.
CRAFT fellows pose for a photo with other water protectors and Indigenous activist at a Halluci Nation concert in Michigan, summer 2024.
The story of Citizens’ Resistance Against Fermi Two (CRAFT) began in southeastern Michigan just after Christmas Day in 1993, when the main turbine of Fermi 2 failed–releasing 1.5 million gallons of untreated radioactive wastewater into Lake Erie. From this moment, Citizens’ Resistance Against Fermi Two was formed as a small but mighty Indigenous-led coalition of concerned citizens fighting for a future free from radioactive waste.
CRAFT Community Organizer Jesse Deer In Water speaks at the 2024 MEJC Summit.
After a decade of dormancy, CRAFT was reignited in 2011 when the Fukushima accident reminded many communities around the world of the dangers of nuclear reactors. For the members of CRAFT, this was a reminder that was especially close to home–the Fukushima nuclear reactor had the same flawed design as FERMI 2. With careful input and consideration from their community elders, the decision was made to bring CRAFT back together to continue fighting for the safety of earth and the future of renewable energy. Since then, CRAFT has been building an intergenerational coalition grounded in Indigenous values that is committed to protecting Lake Erie and building a true renewable energy future.
This summer, their advocacy work secured a revised discharge permit from the state for FERMI 2. Under this permit, FERMI has a new thermal limit on its impacts on Lake Erie. This is critical to ensuring that the plant does not overheat the lake, and helps minimize damage done to lake ecosystems from nuclear wastewater. This revised discharge permit was just one example of their work to educate, advocate, and strategize around keeping fenceline communities near FERMI 2 safe. They are also dedicated to building strong communities and coalitions throughout the state and across the country. From hosting manoomin (wild rice) soup cook-offs to their inaugural community fellowship cohort to building a knowledge base around nuclear data trends, CRAFT is creating the sustainable futures they want to see from the ground up.