For Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

1 – What are the top five priorities for the Great Lakes? 

The Alliance for the Great Lakes, which advocates for protections, has identified a handful of priorities for Congress and the Trump Administration.

The priorities: 

• Increase water infrastructure funding, prioritize funding for communities most in need, and enact national water affordability legislation
• Reauthorize and fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
• Pass a Farm Bill that prioritizes clean water
• Pass legislation to stop plastic pollution
• And finally … Protect the Great Lakes from aquatic invasive species.

The organization says all five priorities require federal agencies to support scientific research and retain necessary staff.

More information about the Alliance and its top 2026 federal priorities is online at GreatLakes.org. 

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2 – The Michigan Clean Water Corps is looking for volunteers. 

The Corps collects surface water quality data statewide and is looking for help with its 2026 Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program.

Locally, training will be offered online via Zoom. 

Program volunteers monitor water quality, invasive species, and habitat conditions in lakes. They receive detailed instructions, training, and equipment. The data they collect are added to the MiCorps Data Exchange, a public database that includes lake information dating back to 1974. See MiCorps.net for more information. 

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3 – Midland Township and eight other communities will host solar power and battery storage projects to advance clean energy. 

The state says almost $4 million in Renewables Ready Communities Awards will support projects to provide Michigan households and businesses with clean energy.

Midland Township in Midland County will receive $750,000, pending final approval, for hosting Salzburg Battery Storage, a 150-megawatt battery storage project with an expected construction date of June 2027 and an operation date of December 2028.

Fairgrove Township in Tuscola County also is due to receive $500,000 for hosting Tuscola II Energy Storage, a 100-megawatt battery storage project with an expected construction date of April 2027 and an operation date of May 2028.

Mason Township in Arenac County is due to receive about $120,000 for hosting Au Gres Solar, a 55 megawatt solar project with an expected construction date of July 2026 and operation date of September 2028.

Officials say deploying renewable energy at scale is essential to meeting targets in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. 

– Mr. Great Lakes (Science Podcast of the Year) 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