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So much time and effort has been spend on making our homes more efficient. But what about commercial properties and businesses? A new and innovative program in Ann Arbor aimed as creating such opportunity in the area called the A2 Area Commercial Solar Program is available to businesses and property owners throughout Washtenaw County that are open to moving to solar. Ann Arbor's Senior Energy Analyst, Julie Roth, joins WEMU's David Fair to provide all the details.
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Yousef Rabhi's tenure as a state representative has ended. However, he will be sworn in Wednesday evening and return to the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners. Rabhi joined WEMU's David Fair to fill us in on local environmental priorities in the new year and how his tenure in the Michigan Legislature may help in his return to the county board.
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The pandemic continues to cause greater housing and food insecurity and the impact on area veterans is only growing. Derrick Miller is a former Marine and now heads the Ann Arbor-based Community Action Network. He says the nonprofit service organization is being put to the test by increased demand. Mr. Miller joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the increasingly creative means necessary to provide basic needs and a foundation of support for greater quality of life.
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Ann Arbor voters will decide a long-term tax question in the mid-term elections. The city is asking for a 20-year, one-mill tax increase to fund its Community Climate Action plan. It’s a lofty ask, and, as WEMU’s Cathy Shafran reports, not everyone is on board.
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The Ypsilanti District Library will soon open a new branch to serve Superior Township and the Willow Run area, and it's being constructed with the environment in mind. The new facility will contain a 46-kilowatt solar array, and all the glass on the outside of the building will be bird-friendly. Ypsilanti District Library executive director, Lisa Hoenig, joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss those measures and the grand opening plans.
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As the climate crisis worsens, the drive to more quickly create sustainable, renewable energy systems is picking up steam. But there are barriers slowing things down. For example, Manchester Township recently denied a permit that would have allowed for a 159-acre solar farm. State House Minority Leader Donna Lasinski represents that part of Washtenaw County, and she shares her perspective with WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak.
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Planners in a western Washtenaw County community have turned down permits for a proposed solar farm following intense opposition from nearby residents. WEMU’s Cathy Shafran has details.
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Most residential homes and commercial buildings rely heavily on gas power. It leaves a significant carbon footprint at a time when the community is rushing to become carbon neutral. The movement is gaining steam, and, this week, residents can learn more at an electrification expo. WEMU's David Fair got into the details of it all with Julie Roth from the City of Ann Arbor's Office of Sustainability and Innovations.
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More than 230 environmental organizations and public interest groups have signed on to a petition asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the utility industry for harming the public by putting up barriers to rooftop solar and renewable energy expansion. WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director, Lisa Wozniak, took a deeper dive into the effort to reign in the power of America’s utility industry with Matt Kasper. Matt is deputy director at the Energy and Policy Institute.
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Advocates for municipal or community power utilities in Ann Arbor believe that moving away from a centralized, privately held utility provider to one that is owned and operated by the local government or another state body will provide a better service to the public. It is part of a larger energy conversation being held around the state and country. WEMU’s David Fair checked in with 53rd District State House Representative Yousef Rabhi (D-Ann Arbor) to see what movement is being made locally and in state government.