Archive for July 2009
By Allison Bush, bushalli@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
July 3, 2009
Some cash-strapped state agencies charged with protecting the Great Lakes environment are merging and reorganizing to do more with less.
Michigan’s Senate could vote next week to combine that state’s Department of Environmental Quality with the Department of Natural Resources. The House of Representatives approved a similar measure recently. Other states are considering similar moves.
Ironically, the functions of both of Michigan’s agencies had once been combined. In 1995, then Gov. John Engler split them ostensibly to place regulatory programs into their own department.
Will bringing …
DOE-funded wind energy projects in the Great Lakes
By Sarah Coefield, coefield@msu.edu
Great Lakes Echo
July 2, 2009
Great Lakes wind power is getting a turbo boost.
The Great Lakes region will receive nearly a third of the $8.5 million federal officials recently set aside for wind energy development.
The region will see $475,929 to study wind energy environmental impacts, $100,000 for development of small turbines, $1,446,942 for wind energy education and training and $587,029 to bring
By Andy Balaskovitz, abalaskovitz@gmail.com
Great Lakes Echo
July 1, 2009
On the west side of Michigan’s Okemos High School is Zach Trelstad’s favorite classroom. To the right of the greenhouse entrance is the sandy ground with desert-native plants. To the left is the tropical area filled with large overhanging leaves, ponds with amphibians and intricate vines on lattice. It’s about the same size as a regular classroom but filled with sunlight and plants instead of light bulbs and desks.
“When I whisper at them, the frogs will croak back pretty loudly,” …
