I’m a scientist by training. I know the difference between climate and weather. So the fact that it’s supposed to hit 87 degrees today, March 21, in Lansing, Michigan, and that my neighbors are mowing their grass, that the trees in my yard are sprouting fresh new buds, and friends have been slapping mosquitoes? That’s weather.

Bills being considered by the Michigan House of Representatives today would drive the state’s composting operations out of business.

More greenhouse gases, more landfills and more layoff notices make these bills bad policy for the State of Michigan. Instead Michigan should be exploring policies that would make us a clean energy leader around the country.

In each issue of the Michigan Environmental Report, we celebrate accomplishments by MEC and member groups.

A letter to Michigan’s Congressional delegation from Michigan college, university, agency and NGO researchers regarding the Clean Air Act and greenhouse gas emissions. --- As scientists, researchers, and concerned citizens of the great state of Michigan, we are writing to urge all members of our delegation to stand up for clean air, clean water and the future of Michigan’s economy. We strongly urge you to reject any measure that would block or delay the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from protecting the people of Michigan from air pollution and human caused climate change, both of which put public health, agriculture, the environment and our economy at risk.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration is going to court to try and maintain a Department of Environmental Quality denial of an air permit for a coal plant expansion in Holland; meanwhile, House Democrats have started the new session by endorsing construction of new coal plants in Michigan.

The first public draft of a sweeping vision for a thriving, sustainable Michigan in the year 2060 was released this fall for public input.

A webinar led by MEC Energy Program Director David Gard exploring the concept of “Peak Oil” was offered to MEC member groups Sept. 30. The 60-minute presentation discussed the evidence and potential consequences of this emerging reality, and suggested possible solutions for a sustainable future

Federal fuel economy standards will benefit Big Three automakers, consumers in Michigan and the Midwest

Peter Sinclair doesn’t suffer climate change skeptics gladly. So the Midland resident has taken to blasting fact-sized holes in their arguments through a series of innovative, caustic and educational YouTube videos that have gained a national following this year.

Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Executive Directive (2009-4), released today, reflects the unique consensus on Michigan energy policy reforms reached recently by a diverse group of leaders from manufacturing, automotive industries, utility companies, environmental groups, universities, and government.

One dozen groups file comments urging more thorough consideration of cheaper, cleaner alternatives to Rogers City coal burning plant

The Michigan Environmental Council today applauded President Obama’s plan to establish responsible, uniform mileage standards that will slash greenhouse gas pollution from new vehicles and make the nation more energy independent.

The following letter was delivered to State House Speaker Andy Dillon, Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer and Gov. Granholm’s office from leading statewide environmental groups. It is a response to a letter to the governor signed by dozens of House members criticizing her recent Clean Energy executive directive. Many of these House members are Clean Energy supporters, but have been grossly misled about the legality, intent, and effect of the governor’s directive. We hope this letter helps set the record straight…or, at least straighter!

One of the Michigan Environmental Council's legislative priorities for 2009 is the adoption of a low-carbon fuels standard that will help diversify Michigan's economy, protect the environment and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels from other states and nations.

Detroit today joined the growing ranks of cities embracing a green economy and taking the initiative against climate change, committing to cut its greenhouse gas emissions significantly during the next several years.

MEC and its allies are gearing up to convince state legislators to overhaul the state’s outdated and inefficient construction codes for new buildings.

A victory for Michigan’s environment and economy was secured in September with the adoption of new energy efficiency programming and the state’s first renewable energy standard.

Tremaine Phillips, a Michigan State University graduate whose environmental studies have taken him from Brazil to Australia, joined the Michigan Environmental Council staff this summer.

The first increases in federal automotive fuel economy standards in more than three decades passed Congress in December, drawing cheers from leading Michigan environmental groups, including the Michigan Environmental Council.

The image is appealing and strangely unforgettable. It’s simply a bright orange, heavy-duty electric cord, its three-pronged plug fitting easily into a luminously smooth piece of coal. Instantly the entire screen is illuminated in bright, warm, reassuring light. Ah, the wonders of “Clean Coal.” I have to admit, this is one great TV ad.

The Michigan Environmental Council is among those tapped to help the state stem global warming through the newly formed Michigan Climate Action Council. Gov. Jennifer Granholm created the council in November to draft a blueprint for state climate change policies and actions. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through technology innovation and policies that provide economic and environmental benefits.

Welcome to "WonkTalk," a new Michigan Environmental Report featurette designed to put environmental geekspeak and arduous acronyms into plain English.

An older British woman once described how as a child she would savor the first strawberries picked in season. Nowadays, she said, they just don’t taste as good because you can buy them any time you want at the supermarket. What, besides nostalgia for a simpler and sweeter time, do we really pay for year-round strawberries? For starters, consider the embedded energy resources they represent.

It’s the economy, stupid! And, the environment as well, according to a new University of Michigan study that shows the two go hand-in-hand when it comes to renewable power, reductions in global warming pollution and incentives for energy efficiency.

Climate change is coming to Michigan and a Great Lake near you, according to a panel of experts convened to discuss recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Suddenly, environmental work is hot. It feels like the late 1960s when filthy water and lung-burning air tipped public opinion, drove historic legislative changes and forced President Nixon to sign laws protecting America’s water, land, air and endangered species.

A member of the MEC family is a foot soldier for Al Gore. Kathryn Savoie, Environmental Program Director for the Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services, is helping to spread Gore’s message that global warming is the biggest moral challenge facing civilization.

Could the scientists at Nasa, the National academy of science, the American Meteorological Society, and every professional scientific organization on the planet really have been so silly as to miss something this obvious?

The Carbon Counter displays the running total amount of long-lived greenhouse gasses in the earth's atmosphere, measured in metric tons.