Carbon Neutrality

The Washtenaw County-based Community Action Network (CAN) is taking a neighborhood approach to help those most in need and to build better and more equitable futures. CAN executive director Derrick Miller joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the successes to date and the work that remains to be done. 

Life is always busy in Ann Arbor, and the city's mayor, Christopher Taylor, talks with WEMU's Lisa Barry about some of the many issues city officials are currently addressing.

Many Washtenaw County residents prefer their bicycles instead of cars as a means for transportation. In fact, the popularity of non-motorized transportation continues to grow. Larry Deck is on the board of the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss  work being done on the Border-to-Border Trail and the Campus-to-Campus path. 

Washtenaw County had already declared an official climate emergency, and it has set a goal of getting the entire county carbon neutral by the year 2035. The "Climate Action Planning Team" has been formed, and the next steps are being taken. Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners chair Sue Shink joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the work ahead.  

The City of Ann Arbor has set an ambitious goal of achieving communtiy-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. The steps are set forth in the city's A2Zero plan. It is likely, however, that, to meet the target, taxpayers will have to help. Mayor Christopher Taylor recently presented a one-mill, 20-year, property tax plan to make it possible. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the proposal and more. 

Washtenaw Community College has announced it plans to run 100% on renewable energies by the year 2029. In part, it plans to get there by signing on to  DTE Energy's MIGreenPower program. The utility's renewable solutions director, Brian Calka, joined  WEMU's David Fair to discuss the agreement with WCC, the program itself, and DTE's plans for a more sustainable, renewable energy future. 

The University of Michigan is moving forward with a plan to make its entire organization carbon neutral by 2040.

The University of Michigan has initiated a carbon neutrality plan unlike any other.  If effective, the school could become completely carbon neutral by the year 2040.  In this month's installment of "1st Friday Focus on the Environment," WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak explored the U-M President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality plan with Jennifer Haverkamp, the chair of the recently dispersed commission and director of the Graham Sustainability Institute.

It was just over a year ago that residents of Michigan were told to “stay home...stay safe” by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, otherwise referred to as “lockdown” by some people due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Lisa Barry talks with Ann Arbor city administrator Tom Crawford to find out what impact that has had on the city and what else has been going on in City Hall as work continues, despite the global health crisis.

The University of Michigan’s Carbon Neutrality Acceleration Program is providing grant funding to  seven projects aimed at reducing net carbon emissions.  WEMU's Heather Irvine has more. 

On Monday night, Ann Arbor’s city council discussed goals the city has set for 2021 and beyond.  

During Monday's December 7th Ann Arbor city council meeting, council will discuss a resolution that, if approved, will lead to the installation of fast-charging electric vehicle stations.  

The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners will meet Wednesday night and discuss a resolution that, if approved, would impact the county’s carbon neutrality goal.