For Friday, June 16, 2023

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1 – Following smoke from Canadian wildfires last week, a Michigan agency is encouraging folks to sign for EnviroFlash alerts. 

The EnviroFlash system is part of AirNow, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. You can choose the area you’d like to receive alerts for. Then you’ll receive alerts via email or a text message. 

See enviroflash.info to subscribe. 

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires last week resulted in two firsts in Michigan history. 

The first Action Day advisory for any pollutant in the Upper Peninsula was issued. And so were the first Action Day advisories for fine particulates in the state, covering most of the lower half of the Lower Peninsula. 

While the air has cleared for now, state officials say extreme heat caused by climate change can cause longer and more severe dry periods. That’s due to increased evaporation and lack of rainfall, which causes vegetation to ignite easier and fires to spread more quickly. 

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2 – Trees can help reduce the effects of climate change. A foundation is awarding $100,000 for community tree planting grants in Michigan. 

The DTE Energy Foundation program is administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

The program supports tree planting projects in DTE’s service area, which includes the Thumb. 

Matching grants of up to $4,000 each are available, with an application deadline of Aug. 11. 

Local governments, schools and nonprofits in the service area are eligible. 

The DTE program has helped plant 20 million trees, with funding totaling $3.6 million. The plantings are done with help from an Ann Arbor nonprofit called ReLeaf Michigan. Awards will be announced in October. 

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3 – People seem to like rooftop solar. 

Eighty-six percent of U.S. adults surveyed say they would welcome the installation of rooftop solar panels in their communities, according to a recent Heatmap Climate Poll. 

Heatmap is a climate and energy new media company. The poll of 1,000 adults also found that rooftop solar is the most popular of the main types of renewable energy among Americans, above wind turbines and large-scale solar panel farms. 

The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council says the popularity is reflected in Michigan. The year 2022 was the best one yet for solar installations. That’s according to member Michigan Saves, a nonprofit green bank that offers financing for residential projects. 

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– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Fridays at 9:30 a.m. in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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