For Friday, July 14, 2023

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1 – Public land in a dozen Michigan counties is being offered for sale in online auctions in August and September. 

Many of the nearly 100 parcels were declared as surplus land by the state Department of Natural Resources.

The parcels include land in Midland, Iosco and Oscoda counties. 

More than 20 properties that are 40 acres or larger are available in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. That includes a 40-acre parcel in Midland County’s Greendale Township. 

A detailed list of the land for sale and auction dates between Aug. 4 and Sept. 7 is online at Michigan.gov/LandforSale.

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2 – Pairing community solar with weatherization can have a large impact on bills and usage.

The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy began working with local community action agencies and utilities in 2017 to develop community solar pilot programs. 

Community solar allows households to subscribe to a local solar array and then receive credits on their energy bills without having to install solar panels on their own roofs. 

During pilots in the Lansing area, Traverse City area and Baraga County in the U.P., residents who enrolled in solar community programs also received free weatherization services. 

A case study by the Clean Energy States Alliance says participants in the pilot experienced 70 percent in total savings. 

The alliance says Michigan’s work can serve as a model for other state agencies and community partners seeking to reduce the energy burden for low-income communities.

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3 – Offshore wind energy in the Great lakes offers a significant opportunity for clean energy. 

Federally funded research by the National Renewable Energy Lab indicates that the adoption of offshore wind energy could enable states in the Great Lakes region to achieve clean-energy goals, boost economies with high-paying jobs and provide a cleaner environment for residents.

Obstacles include the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal, which are too narrow to accommodate big ocean vessels used to install offshore wind turbines. Some people also don’t want to see big windmills on the horizon. 

The research makes several recommendations to enable offshore wind in the lakes by 2035, including ways to minimize environmental impacts on people, birds, bats and fisheries. 

– 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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