I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given biomass power generation a three year long exemption from new rules that require reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.
Last May EPA said that it did not have reason to exclude wood and farm waste burning power plants from greenhouse gas regulations under the Clean Air Act.
The Associated Press reports that EPA’s reversal was triggered by pressure from Congress.
More than two-dozen members of Congress had asked the agency late last year to reconsider its position on biomass because it can be carbon neutral if emissions are counted as something that would be released anyway when wood rots.
With Republicans in the House gearing up to take on the EPA over greenhouse gas regulations, the biomass decision could sway some votes for legislation aimed at delaying or blocking global warming efforts.
“The EPA was precariously close to enforcing new job-killing regulations, and with the urging of a bipartisan congressional effort, made the right decision in reversing course,” Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said in a statement. “I will continue to watch the EPA carefully to ensure that the new economic opportunities that woody biomass offers for rural Oregon has the opportunity to move forward.”
Burning wood releases more climate-damaging gases than coal according to a Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences study sponsored by the state of Massachusetts last year.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter