Environment
Nearly all national park sites to close during government shutdown
Almost all National Park Service sites will be inaccessible during a partial federal government shutdown likely to start this weekend, the U.S. Interior Department said Friday. The agency will bar access to most of the nation’s 425 parks, recreation areas, national historic sites and other units, according to a fact sheet from the Interior Department, […]
House panel hears testimony on whether to remove ban on local regulation of plastic bags
The House Natural Resources, Environment, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee met on Thursday to hear testimony on bills that would restore local governments’ ability to regulate plastic bags and other reusable or single-use containers. State Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield) — whose House Bill 4359 would repeal a 2016 law preempting local regulations of “certain containers” […]
Republicans go on the attack after Ford halts EV battery plant construction in Marshall
The Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday approved $65 million in additional funding for a Marshall site for a project where Ford Motor Co. this week halted construction of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant. The automaker’s action has spurned controversy and battle of words as the United Auto Workers (UAW) strike against Ford, General […]
How a looming government shutdown could hit national parks
National parks and nearby communities could forego millions of dollars per day during a partial government shutdown that could start this weekend. Would-be visitors will likely see restrictions on park access, though the extent of those restrictions was still unclear just days before a potential lapse in federal appropriations set to begin Sunday. Parks would […]
Advocates rally for clean energy as lawmakers continue to tweak legislation
Students, lawmakers and environmental activists from across the state gathered Tuesday on the Capitol steps, calling for climate action, environmental justice and clean energy policy. In recent weeks, members of the Democratic-led Legislature have heard testimony and made tweaks to clean energy policies, including a 100% carbon free standard for electricity generation, energy waste reduction, […]
Nessel draws broad support from tribal nations, businesses and other states in Line 5 suit
A coalition of tribal nations from across the Midwest and Canada on Monday submitted a brief supporting Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s argument to move her lawsuit to shut down Enbridge’s Line 5 pipelines back to state court. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals will weigh arguments as to whether Nessel’s case should be […]
Ramaswamy rouses Michigan GOP faithful on Mackinac, claims there is ‘a war in this country’
In years past, the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference would attract several GOP presidential candidates, but this time Michigan Republicans had to settle for just one: Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur from Ohio, who enthralled the MAGA-dominated crowd with a full-throated embrace of anti-science rhetoric and an outright rejection of compromise. “I think we’re in the […]
UAW members testify in favor of just energy transition office legislation
As Democratic lawmakers continue pushing on policy to transition Michigan to clean energy sources, members of the state Senate Labor Committee heard testimony Thursday on a bill to ensure workers are not left behind in a switch to renewables. Senate Bill 519, introduced by State Sen. Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), would create a community and […]
Rick Haglund: Decline of wages, jobs and Detroit Three market share fuel UAW strike
As President Barack Obama’s “car czar” in 2009, Steven Rattner played a crucial role in saving the collapsing domestic auto industry. Rattner, a former journalist and investment banker, engineered the sale of a flat-broke Chrysler to Italian automaker Fiat and fired General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, who resisted putting GM into bankruptcy. Those moves, combined […]
Sparring over clean energy standards continues at committee hearing
The Senate Energy and Environment Committee heard additional testimony on bills aimed at transitioning Michigan to renewable energy at its Wednesday meeting, following changes to proposed clean energy and waste reduction standards. The committee heard testimony on three bills, one that would transition Michigan to 100% clean energy sources, another establishing new energy waste reduction […]
Michigan Supreme Court won’t hear appeals in Flint water crisis cases
The Michigan Supreme court will not hear appeals to the lower courts’ decisions to dismiss criminal charges against key figures in the Flint Water Crisis prosecution, including the state health director at the time. Nine officials in Michigan, including former Gov. Rick Snyder, were charged in 2021, in connection to the Flint water crisis that […]
Gilchrist highlights clean energy jobs following new report outlining industry growth
Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and clean energy business representatives on Tuesday celebrated growth in Michigan’s clean energy industry following the release of a new report by E2, otherwise known as Environmental Entrepreneurs. E2, a national nonpartisan group of business leaders and investors and others advocating for policies to support the environment and business, released its […]