Flush with federal cash, Michigan officials plan to upgrade 15,000 homes with insulation, airtight windows and high-efficiency furnaces. But first, officials need to recruit hundreds of contractors to do the work.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan's environment for Bridge Michigan, with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change, industrial pollution, water quality and wildlife. She joined Bridge in March 2020 after reporting for the Oregonian, where her coverage earned national honors and sparked efforts to better protect Oregon's natural resources. Kelly holds a master's degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University.
Kelly grew up in Harrison and is based in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
What furor over drab Gaylord land says about Michigan’s energy transition
Nobody thought much of 420 acres in Gaylord until a proposal to put solar panels on it. Now, it’s become hallowed ground — and points to the difficulty of meeting Michigan’s climate goals.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Study: Climate change means fewer freezing winter days in Michigan
Michigan now sees nine fewer days of sub-freezing temperatures each winter because of warming caused by burning fossil fuels, according to a new study. It’s on track to get worse.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Gaylord solar lease plan sparks broad battle over green energy in Michigan
Controversy over a proposal to lease state land near Gaylord for a solar array has spiraled into a battle over Michigan’s role in the green energy transition. Some lawmakers want to halt all solar development on public lands; critics accuse them of hypocrisy.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Amid outcry, solar farm owner says it no longer wants Michigan forest to expand
Michigan lawmakers are upset over a state plan to lease 420 acres near Gaylord for a nearby solar farm. Now, the company involved says it no longer wants the land.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
MSU is studying lamprey sex. Can birth control save Great Lakes from invaders?
The race is on at Michigan State University to understand bedroom habits of the sea lamprey before they eviscerate Great Lakes fish populations.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
A Great Lakes ‘Pompeii’? Lake Huron’s depths hold secrets of human history
Ten years ago, scientists discovered ancient hunting camps beneath the lake. Now, DNA samples from a submerged peat bog could produce more revelations about the prehistoric Great Lakes.
Posted inTalent & Education
Amid drone fears, enthusiasts square off with U-M over campus ban
A coalition of drone operators hopes to overturn the university’s ban on flying drones over U-M property — and eventually ban local drone bans across the state.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
$90M data center tax break plan headed to Gov. Whitmer after final passage
The legislation poises Michigan to exempt massive “enterprise” data centers from sales and use taxes on their equipment, saving the industry an estimated $90 million through 2065.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Ann Arbor hopes to bring rooftop solar to the masses by creating a utility
Amid climate concerns and frustrations with DTE Energy’s high outage rate, the city is planning a ‘sustainable energy utility’ that backers tout as a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable option.