For Friday, May 9, 2025

1 – Michigan’s recycling rate reached a new high for the fourth year in a row.

The state’s environmental agency says the recycling rate for Fiscal Year 2024 was more than 25%. The rate has risen steadily for the past several years. It’s up more than 10% from pre-2019 levels. 

By the numbers, officials say recycling in 2024 totaled more than 723,000 tons of materials, including glass, paper and plastics. 

On average, each Michigander contributed 143 pounds of recycling.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says Michigan is on track to meet a state recycling goal of 30% by 2029. 

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2 – Permeable pavement can reduce stormwater runoff by up to 19%, a recent study says. 

Youngstown State University, funded by Ohio Sea Grant, looked at how green infrastructure can help coastal areas prepare for more intense storms. 

Researchers worked with stakeholders in three northeast Ohio cities to test solutions like permeable pavement and rain gardens. 

They used future climate projections and local data to model how much runoff each method could reduce. 

Permeable pavement in commercial parking areas worked best during large storms. Rain gardens in residential areas helped with smaller, frequent storms. 

The takeaway: A mix of green infrastructure can help communities better manage stormwater as the climate changes.

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3 – Low-carbon energy sources provided nearly 41% of the world’s electricity in 2024. 

A global energy think tank called Ember says that’s the highest share since the 1940s and marks a milestone in a shift to cleaner energy.

Most of the growth came from renewables, especially solar power. 

Ember’s report says solar is the fastest-growing energy source for the 20th year in a row and now supplies almost 7% of global electricity. 

Wind generation also grew to 8.1%. Hydropower remained steady at about 14%. Nuclear was at 9%, a 45-year low.

Experts say solar is leading a global energy transition and, with battery storage, could soon be a dominant force worldwide.

Still, the analysis found that fossil fuel generation saw a 1.4% increase in 2024 due to surging electricity demand for cooling during heatwaves. This pushed global power sector emissions up 1.6% to an all-time high.

h/t Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard at 6:45 and 8:45 Friday mornings on Delta College Public Radio 90.1 FM WUCX in University Center, Michigan, near Bay City (listen live). Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes