The Obama administration’s top environmental official indicated Tuesday that she will consider tougher rules to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species that hitch rides into the region aboard oceangoing vessels.

The Bay City Times:
A new coal plant for Bay County is back on the front burner.
The state’s review process for the proposed $2.3 billion coal plant will resume in March, two area legislators said today.

State Sen. James Barcia, D-Bay City, and state Rep. Jeff Mayes, D-Bay City, said they were notified by the state Department of Environmental Quality that the air permit process has resumed for Consumers Energy’s plan to build a new plant at its Karn-Weadock generating complex in Hampton Township. The process had been delayed under a directive …