The Huron River has, once again, been put at risk because of a chemical spill. First it was PFAS contamination, and now it's Hexavalent Chromium. In both instances, the same Wixom-based company is responsible. Yet, the laws in Michigan do not allow for holding the company liable. That wasn't always the case. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, got together with the author of Michigan's original and now-dismantled polluter pay legislation. Former Ann Arbor State Senator Lana Pollack weighed in on the need to re-institute liability laws to better protect the environment.

As the climate crisis worsens, the drive to more quickly create sustainable, renewable energy systems is picking up steam. But there are barriers slowing things down. For example, Manchester Township recently denied a permit that would have allowed for a 159-acre solar farm. State House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski represents that part of Washtenaw County, and she shares her perspective with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.

Voters in Ann Arbor will decide an issue in November that could very well determine the success of the city's A2Zero plan to reach carbon neutrality by the year 2030. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, discussed the stakes with Kris Olsson, who is part of a group advocating for passage of the Community Climate Action ballot proposal.

More than 230 environmental organizations and public interest groups have signed on to a petition asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the utility industry for harming the public by putting up barriers to rooftop solar and renewable energy expansion. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, took a deeper dive into the effort to reign in the power of America’s utility industry with Matt Kasper. Matt is deputy director at the Energy and Policy Institute.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has released her MI Healthy Climate Plan. It is considered by many to be the boldest climate action proposal in state history. On this month’s edition of WEMU’s "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," we look at key components of the plan and its potential impact on under-served communities and the overall health of our air, land, and water. David Fair is joined by Derrell Slaughter of the Natural Resources Defense Council and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, this week, signed a nearly $5 billion dollar spending plan into law that will increase investment in infrastructure, water systems, quality and safety, and a number of other environmental measures. Will the plan create future sustainability? Will it only address short term-needs? Governor Whitmer provides the answers in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair and Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.

Toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" are a worsening problem in our land and water and, now, our food supply. Beef produced at a small Livingston County farm was found to contain PFAS. How prevalent is the problem? WEMU's David Fair and Lisa Wozniak of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters explore this specific issue in context of the larger PFAS problem with Tony Spaniola, co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s 4th State of the State Address is in the books, and she is shifting focus to the new state budget and her re-election…

October 1st kicks off a new fiscal year for both the state and federal governments. As with any new budget, there are many concerns. Among them is access…

There were a number of heavy thunderstorms in late July and early-to-mid August. Almost a million Michiganders lost electricity in the worst of the…