environmental justice

While we ring in the New Year, 2026 will see a continuation of many of the same environmental issues we experienced through 2025. But this year is also a mid-term election year, and that could further complicate issues. 48th District State Representative Jennifer Conlin discusses what may come in 2026. The Ann Arbor Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and co-host Lisa Wozniak to explore current and new challenges.

2025 is wrapping up, and one of the primary issues raised over the past year is the proliferation and impacts of data centers. In 2026, we're likely to see some of these centers move toward becoming operational. Weighing economic benefit against potential environmental harm will continue, and there will be more vocal support and outrage for each proposed center. WEMU's David Fair got together with Washtenaw County Resiliency Office Director Beth Gibbons to try and compute the impact of data centers in Washtenaw County.

Approval for Michigan projects to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them underground could happen at the state level under bipartisan bills passed in the Michigan Senate Thursday. Colin Jackson has more.

Another large crowd is expected at tonight’s Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees meeting as the controversy regarding the proposed University of Michigan data center continues. WEMU‘s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

The Trump administration is cancelling or defunding a number of initiatives that have been investing in environmental and energy justice. These are programs that, in some cases, have a direct impact on Washtenaw County. The Biden-era Justice40 program has been cancelled. WEMU's David Fair spoke with one of the architects of that program, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, who is the former White House Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer and is founder and CEO of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC.

The Trump Administration has been slashing government in a variety of areas, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Region 5 of the EPA covers the Great Lakes area and includes Washtenaw County. The layoffs have the potential to impact the agency’s ability to steward the environment around the world’s largest body of fresh water. And the impact on public health could be significant. Loreen Targos is Executive Vice President of the American Federation of Government Employees-Local 704, which represents about 1,000 EPA workers. She spoke with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak about employee cuts and the implications.

The A2Zero Plan aims to have Ann Arbor carbon neutral by the year 2030. While it is an environmental initiative, it is being implemented with the idea of creating greater equity and equality through the process. WEMU's David Fair talked over that component of A2Zero with Missy Stults, the city's Director of Sustainability and Innovations.

A key component to adapting to a changing climate is resiliency—finding ways to be flexible in addressing change in environmental, social and economic ways. Ann Arbor recently received a $1 million grant from the EPA’s Environmental Justice Government-to-Government program to support investment in reaching the most underserved residents. Ann Arbor Sustainability and Innovations director Missy Stults joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss how the grant money will be applied.

Governor Whitmer has signed measures into law to require all children be tested for lead exposure. Additionally, a new law requires installation of lead water filters in all schools and childcare centers. It is progress, but there is still a lot of work to be done. WEMU's David Fair discusses its impacts with lead policy expert Mary Sue Schottenfels.

The United Auto Workers strike against the Detroit Three ended with the union claiming significant gains over past contracts. Among those that supported the union through the strike was the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center. In addition to gains for workers, it says the contracts are important for our future environmental health. WEMU's David Fair took a look ahead and practical impacts of the deals with the Ecology Center’s Climate and Energy Program Director, Charles Griffith.