For Friday, Oct. 30, 2020
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1 – A new poll finds that voters strongly support transitioning the U.S. to clean sources of energy, and believe moving away from natural gas will benefit Americans and their communities.
The poll is from Climate Nexus, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.
It found that large majorities of registered voters support expanding the use of clean energy in the U.S. and policies that prioritize renewables over natural gas.
Eighty-two percent said achieving 100% clean energy should be the primary goal of U.S. energy policy.
Sixty-three percent said developing more renewables should be the priority when seeking to address U.S. energy needs, compared to 15 percent for gas and 9 percent for nuclear.
Fifty-eight percent said increasing production of renewables is more likely to create a greater number of good jobs than increasing production of fossil fuels, at 25 percent.
The survey was of 2,047 registered voters and conducted Sept. 30-Oct. 1, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percent.
More information is online at climatenexus.org.
2 – You can leave the leaves.
The state’s environmental agency notes that many people are turning to composting instead of raking leaves in the fall.
It’s simple and effective. You’ll need a pitchfork, rake and shovel, a compost bin and some soil.
Compost bins can be purchased at hardware stores or made of inexpensive blocks, wire, wood, or snow fencing.
You can compost grass clippings, leaves, weeds, garden debris, small brush, twigs, clean wood ash, sawdust, wood chips, eggshells, coffee grounds and food waste.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has a home composting info sheet online with more tips, along with a short video.
3 – This year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open.
NOAA is short for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Students in grades K-8 from all U.S. states can submit their artwork through Dec. 15.
The artwork should address two themes:
- How marine debris impacts the ocean and the Great Lakes environment and
- What you are doing to help prevent marine debris?
This year the contest will accept entries electronically and by mail.
More information, including a submission form, is online at marinedebris.noaa.gov.
Winning submissions will be featured in a Marine Debris Calendar.
4 – Residents can submit water quality concerns through an online form.
Reports to the state Drinking Water Concern System will be sent to a response team based on the location and nature of the concern.
You can find a hyperlink to the system at Michigan.gov/CleanWater.
The site also includes a way to search for the entity that supplies your local water.
– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (streaming). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes
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Mr Great Lakes 