For Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Happy New Year!

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1 – Federal regulators may finalize new rules next year to prepare the electric grid for the stresses of climate change. 

Advocates say the Great Lakes region is among those in need. 

As reported by the Energy News Network, temperature extremes can disrupt all types of electricity generation sources, from fossil fuel plants to wind farms and solar panels. At the same time, temperature extremes increase the demand for power to heat and cool buildings. 

Climate change is likely to increase these stresses. A federal regulatory commission says extreme heat and cold weather events are occurring with greater frequency. And the events are projected to occur within even greater frequency in the future. 

Federal regulators have proposed updating reliability standards for the electric grid to better account for the challenges of climate change. 

One solution supported by advocates is improved transmission connections between regional electric grids. Grid operator MISO, which serves Michigan and other parts of the Midwest, approved $10 billion worth of transmission systems upgrades this past summer. 

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2 – You can find out what agencies, universities and local organizations are doing to battle invasive species during webinars early next year. 

A webinar series for the Michigan Invasive Species Program is for people concerned about impacts of invasive species or interested in techniques used to control them.

Topics to be discussed include species-specific actions, innovations in research and technology, and programs designed to help communities prevent and manage invasives. A question-and-answer period will follow each presentation. 

First up is a Jan. 18 webinar on “Biological control for invasive knotweeds.” 

Next up is a Feb. 7 webinar on so-called “mini-lobsters.” That one looks at the state’s response to invasive red swamp crayfish. 

For more information on the 2023 invasive species webinars, see Michigan.gov/EGLE and look for NotMISpecies.

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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