Most of you are probably familiar with the story of Noah and the flood. You may or may not remember all the details of the story, but I'm quite sure you are familiar with Noah, the ark and all of that water covering the entire planet. I think it would be safe to categorize that flood as an extreme weather event.

In that instance, it was divine intervention that saved the Earth. Today, as we face extreme weather, the solution to the problem will most likely have to come from us. And right now, the best solution is to invest in clean energy.

Each winter, we worry about the day when too much ice might cripple the powerlines during a major storm – and there's always more than one storm. Then, as we move into spring and summer, we worry again whenever the wind blows too hard or there's too much rain.

But it doesn't have to be this way, and there's already more than enough evidence of how converting to clean energy can make our lives better. Our communities will be healthier, and residents will also benefit from lower energy bills. So, a cleaner system should also be a more affordable system for everyone.

Clean energy also puts people to work. Since August 2022, Michigan has seen more than $20 billion in investments in Clean Energy Projects, powering the creation of more than 13,500 jobs.

These added jobs require specialized skills and investments in new technology, which creates a stronger economy. By investing in these jobs, our communities can attract new businesses, increase tax revenues, and create even more job opportunities.

So, let's not wait for the great flood before we act. The time is now to embrace clean energy and move forward into the kind of future that we can feel comfortable leaving to our children.

Rev. Horace Sheffield is pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship and executive director of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations, both in Detroit. He is also a longtime social activist, and host of The Wake Up Call with Horace Sheffield and Friends radio which airs Saturday mornings on WVTC Detroit.