Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Meet the new host of "Issues of the Environment." You know her as a former state Representative and former state Senator from Ann Arbor. Rebekah Warren served as chair of the House Great Lakes and Environment committee and in a number of other environmental leadership roles. Since leaving office, Rebekah has founded, and is President and CEO of Adaptive Strategics, which puts environmental issues front and center. Now, she will steward the conversations about our environment, right here in Washtenaw County. For his last go-round as host, WEMU's David Fair sat down with Rebekah Warren and talked about the future of "Issues of the Environment."

New Michigan House bills would cap profits for public utilities, stop them from using ratepayer revenue to cover executives’ pay and require infrastructure re-evaluation every five years. Colin Jackson has more.

It's a special fundraising edition of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment." For a final time, WEMU's David Fair co-hosts this segment. He's joined by his co-host of more than 25 years, Lisa Wozniak from the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. And they're also joined by the original co-host and co-founder of 1st Fridays, Lana Pollack, the former state Senator from Ann Arbor, President of the Michigan Environmental Council and U.S Chair of the International Joint Commission.

As energy bills continue to rise the Michigan League of Conservation Voters is renewing the push for the passage of a state Ratepayer Bill of Rights. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Large-scale data centers are increasing in number. They can use a lot of land, water and energy. In the meantime, wind and solar farms are part of the renewable energy future. Where to put them, and how to responsibly deal with land use issues, is difficult. These decisions can have a particular impact on our rural communities and the people who live there. Are we prepared for that future? WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters CEO and President, Lisa Wozniak, wanted to know about potential benefits and consequences. They talked it over with Dr. Sarah Mills, the Director of the University of Michigan Graham Sustainability Institute's Center for EmPowering Communities.

Gas prices are skyrocketing; there is also raging debate over data centers and the shift to a more renewable energy future is being set back. Jennifer Granholm has helped shape energy policy as the former Governor of Michigan and as the U.S. Energy Secretary in the Biden Administration. She shared her perspective in a conversation with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters CEO and President, Lisa Wozniak.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is declaring an energy emergency in Michigan. Colin Jackson has more.

The EPA has reversed the so-called "endangerment finding". It is the legal basis for the nation's federal effort to combat climate change. The White House says it led to over-regulation and is costing people money. Scientists and researchers worry about the setbacks it may cause. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak explored these issues with the Holcim Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan, Andy Hoffman.

Michigan environmental advocates are worried about the federal government repealing a scientific finding on greenhouse gas emissions. Colin Jackson has more.

The federal administration is cutting environmental programs and funding and further reducing regulations on polluting. The political environment in Washington, in and of itself, is toxic. On the February edition of WEMU’s "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak were joined by Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin to discuss policy and politics.