For Friday, March 5, 2021
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1 – The spring equinox is Saturday, March 20. That’s another way to say March 20 will be the official first day of spring here in the Northern Hemisphere.
The spring thaw can bring a lot of things, including dead fish. State officials say after ice and snow cover melt on Michigan lakes this spring, it may be more likely for people to discover dead fish and other aquatic animals.
It’s normal, and not another part of the pandemic.
The Department of Natural Resources says fish can become easily stressed in winter due to low energy reserves and minimal feeding during the season. That means they’re less able to handle low oxygen and temperature swings, the DNR says.
You can report fish kills to the state, which helps with management. Go to Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField.
2 – You may have heard people blame renewable energy for the power grid problems in Texas.
The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council has a response to that claim, warning people to beware of misinformation about Texas and renewable energy.
A snippet:
In reality, the crisis in Texas is due to extreme weather and fossil-fuel energy infrastructure that was never designed for such cold weather.
Also:
Years of experience of wind and solar operating throughout the electric grid show that renewable energy does not harm reliability.
Michigan’s utilities, in their long-term plans, are voluntarily choosing to adopt more clean energy than they are required to obtain. That is because renewables, energy efficiency and storage are an essential part of the most cost-effective path forward for energy in Michigan and elsewhere, and are only becoming even more competitive, the council says.
3 – Great Lakes Day events were held virtually this week by environmental and advocacy groups, pushing Congress to support Great Lakes and clean water priorities.
Members of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition held dozens of virtual meetings with members of Congress.
Boosting federal Great Lakes restoration investments
Ramping up funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure
Enacting a nationwide moratorium on water shut-offs
Prioritizing the communities most impacted by pollution and harm.
– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes
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See also:
Nine Ways To Ditch The Single-Use Plastic Bag
Comfortable Camping Goes Carbon Neutral With Airstream Program
Novoloop Upgrades Common Plastic Waste Into XIRC, A Good-As-New Performance Material
Mr Great Lakes 