Michigan climate change

Scientists once believed little important happened during winters. But as they vanish, the study of snowpack is increasing. ‘It brings home a reality that has been predicted for a long time,’ one U-M scientist says.

Unseasonably sunny skies and warm temperatures could be a problem for fruit farmers and their fruit trees, which require cold temperatures to stay dormant.

Cancellations mount as Michigan experiences one of the warmest winters in memory. Experts blame El Niño and climate change.

Lawmakers cheer a report that President Joe Biden’s administration is set to help relaunch a decommissioned plant on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Making homes more energy-efficient saves money and helps combat climate change. But while Michigan is flush with cash to weatherize low-income homes, it struggles to find workers who install insulation and seal air leaks.

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares her 2024 State of the State address, did she accomplish her 2023 goals? Bridge Michigan analyzes the success of her priorities over the last year.

Lawmakers in November gave the state power to override local-level rejections of large wind and solar projects. Opponents of that law will soon start collecting signatures in hopes of sponsoring a November ballot measure to repeal it.

Michigan lawmakers made sweeping changes to Michigan energy laws last fall. But plenty of items missed the cut, from community solar to finding solutions for Michigan’s outage-prone power grid.

Over $5 million was awarded to three school districts, Detroit, Lansing and Pontiac to purchase clean-school buses that have little to no carbon emissions.

Opponents of the new law, which stripped away local permitting control over large wind and solar projects, are pushing a ballot initiative that would ask voters in November to overturn the law.

Less than one percent of the Great Lakes is currently covered by ice, a steep drop from historic levels. Climate change experts have been warning of its impacts for years, and this year we have El Niño as well.

Amid a push toward renewable energy in Michigan, taxpayers are subsidizing technology to turn animal feces into fuel. Opponents say it further subsidizes the growth of an industry responsible for widespread water pollution problems.

Declining hunting participation isn’t the only reason deer populations are skyrocketing. Blame suburban sprawl, a lack of hunting land in southern Michigan, a century-worth of predator suppression and the newer threat of climate change.

DTE Energy and Consumers Energy say their systems are more reliable after severe outages this year. But with extreme weather increasing from climate change, they’re looking at additional funding options such as customer surcharges or bonds.

Ahead of a gathering to assess the health of Lake Erie, the state acknowledges it won’t meet a 2025 deadline to cut phosphorus runoff into Lake Erie by 40 percent. The goal is to protect Lake Erie and Michigan’s small farms.

The transition to electric vehicles means we can’t continue to rely so heavily on gas taxes to pay for roads. But EV owners already pay more than their fair share. A mileage-based system, with some caveats, is a fairer path forward.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed clean energy bills in Detroit on Tuesday that aim to meet the goal of making the state 100 percent reliant on clean energy by midcentury.

An increase in precipitation can be detrimental for fields as it can cause heavy erosion and a lack of soil nutrients.

The Democratic-led Legislature is adjourning after fulfilling much, but not all of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s fall agenda. Lawmakers passed energy and abortion reform but fell short on sick leave and drug affordability.

In a party-line vote, the Senate passed bills that establish statewide permitting rules for large renewable energy developments, an end-run around local efforts to block wind and solar proposals in Michigan. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign the legislation.