Michigan League of Conservation Voters

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.

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.

Over this past summer, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy named a new chief climate officer. Alessandra Carreon was named to the position over the summer after serving on the Michigan Public Service commission. It is a challenging time to try and follow through on adaptation and resiliency policies. Alessandra will discuss how EGLE is proceeding and what the goal is by the end of the Whitmer Administration at the end of 2026 with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.

The Trump Administration is ordering a coal-fired power plant in west Michigan to remain open another three months—just as a previous order was expiring. Colin Jackson has more.

Early this morning, the Michigan Legislature approved a roughly $80 billion budget for the fiscal year. State Senator Jeff Irwin is chair of the Appropriations Committee for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The Ann Arbor Democrat joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak to provide a snapshot of the environmental implications of the budget.

In September, The University of Michigan will hold its first Climate Week. The idea is to create a series of events and activities to further engage the community in climate action and sustainability. It comes against the backdrop of dramatic rollbacks in environmental and climate protections at the federal level. Dr. Shalanda Baker is the school's first-ever Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action. She discussed that and more with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.

6th District Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was joined by clean energy leaders this morning to talk about the negative impacts the Trump administration actions are having on the industry in Michigan. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

A reversal in a federal funding initiative could end an effort to preserve another 4,000 acres of land in southeast Michigan. $24.6 million had been granted to the Legacy Land Conservancy and its partners for preservation of farmland, forests, wetland and waterways in our region, including Washtenaw County. But the Trump Administration has rescinded that grant. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak weigh the real and potential impacts with Legacy Land Conservancy executive director, Diana Kern.

It would be a great relief to be independent of worry about oil spills that could contaminate the Great Lakes. But those worries exist among environmentalists and many in our Great Lakes state. Enbridge Energy is moving forward with plans to build a tunnel around its Line 5 pipeline that runs through the Straits of Mackinac. The new director of the University of Michigan Water Center is Dr. Mike Shriberg. He joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, to discuss the implications.