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It’s that time of year, but each year, it seems to come a little earlier. Toxic algae blooms are starting to cover Lake Erie earlier than usual this summer. This year’s blooms are also expected to be bigger than last summer. WEMU's David Fair takes a look at the impacts of climate change on the blooms in Lake Erie with Dr. Richard Stumpf from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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Webster Township has closed on a conservation easement purchase from the Peter Heydon Trust. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.
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A proposed artist and music venue in Ypsilanti is closer to reality thanks to a brownfield grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.
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Ann Arbor officials says some of the trees in the city are dying, and they attribute it to leaks in the DTE Energy natural gas infrastructure. The utility says it is not the problem. The city is asking DTE to conduct necessary repairs, while the utility argues it would be cost prohibitive to contract an arborist to evaluate potential methane damage to trees. What comes next? WEMU's David Fair discussed it with Ann Arbor Sustainability and Innovations Director, Missy Stults.
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Ann Arbor is putting the brakes on a move to replace all of its streetlights by converting them to LEDs due to what may residents are calling excessive wattage. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.
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The Michigan fuel tax is no longer sufficient to fund needed road repairs and maintenance. As more electric vehicles hit the streets, the tax will raise less money, but the need for road and bridge revenue will only increase. Conversations are underway about alternative possibilities. WEMU's David Fair talks about what that might look like with Denise Donohue, CEO of the County Road Association of Michigan.
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The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority has been awarded its largest federal grant to date to reduce the carbon emissions of its fleet. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.
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Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to provide big tax incentives to lure new data centers to the state. These centers can be the size of several football fields and are a huge drain on electricity and water supplies. While it may create some new jobs, many say it won't create enough and will negatively impact the state's climate goals. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, talked it over with Michigan Climate Action Network executive director, Dr. Denise Keele.
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Ann Arbor has launched its Residential Energy Rebates program. It helps residents make clean energy improvements to their homes. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.
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Engineers aim to keep invasive species out of the Great Lakes. Colin Jackson has more on an agreement between Michigan, Illinois, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.