Energy Efficiency

Renewable energy is becoming a bigger part of our lives. It is crucial to the carbon neutrality goals set forth by the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. For the time being, there are a number of tax credits and rebate incentives to electrify and make your home more efficient, but will it last in the second Trump term? WEMU's David Fair talked about what you can do now and what may lay ahead with the Chair of Efficiency and Electrification for the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Citizens' Climate Lobby, Rich Fein.

The City of Ann Arbor has been awarded a $10 million federal grant for the installation of a geothermal energy system in the Bryant neighborhood. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has the story.

A new solar project being built in Washtenaw County is expected to generate enough electricity to power 15,000 to 20,000 homes every year. The White Tail Solar project will be built on farmland in York and Augusta Townships. Not only is the project going to help with Washtenaw County’s carbon neutrality goals, it is expected to generate well over $1 million in local tax revenue. WEMU's David Fair discussed the project and its impacts with Dick Cupka, chair of the York Township Planning Commission.

With the rise of the green energy industry, there are some, like a group of researchers at University of Michigan, who would like to bring nuclear power back into the clean energy equation. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has more.

Now that Ann Arbor voters have overwhelmingly approved the authorization of a Sustainable Energy Utility, the city has to now create one. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Voters in Ann Arbor had four ballot proposals to decide in the general election. Two passed. Two failed. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor about the results and his perspective on what the decisions mean to the city.

Ann Arbor voters have shot down moving to non-partisan municipal elections and public funding for local candidates. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Several city and township ballot proposals on the Washtenaw County ballot were decided on Tuesday night.

The University of Michigan is forging ahead and working towards being a leader in generative artificial intelligence with its U-M-GPT program. As it does, there are environmental concerns to be addressed. The initiative is part of Michigan’s broader effort to integrate AI into its academic and administrative infrastructure, enhancing learning, teaching, and research. But, AI consumes a great deal of energy. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at U-M, Dr. Ravi Pendse, about how U-M is dealing with the environmental ramifications of AI.

There has been a lot of confusion regarding Ann Arbor’s Proposal A on the November ballot. It asks voters if they want to establish a Sustainable Energy Utility, or SEU. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.