Michigan | The Conservation Report

Michigan’s “state regulations [for wetlands] are more restrictive than those enforced by federal authorities,” but jurisdiction to regulate wetlands may be handed over to the federal government in order to save Michigan a few million dollars. From the New York Times:

Michigan officials say it is a last-resort move that will save $2 million.

“This is a program that has been underfunded in Michigan for a number of years now, and without any new support to increase the funding for the program, we were really left in a position where we couldn’t afford to take any more cuts to the program and still be able to administer it,” said Bob McCann, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ.

“Frankly, it’s not something that we’ve chosen to do for any reason other than we don’t feel we have any other options, unless someone wants to come to the table with a proposal to really restore funding for this program back to where it needs to be.”

. . .

Environmentalists also say the move could threaten the Great Lakes. Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, called the bill a huge step backward, particularly after President Obama proposed a nearly $500 million task force aimed at restoring the Great Lakes in his fiscal 2010 budget plan.

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A startup company that will convert gas-burning vehicles to pure electric vehicles is opening a facility in Lansing, Michigan. This is good news, since Michigan has plenty of skilled labor, but Michigan also has the highest unemployment rate in the United States at 10.6%. From the Lansing State Journal, MI:

The company, EV Performance Warehouse Inc., plans to convert existing, gas-burning cars into purely electric-driven vehicles. Its first project will be to convert 2,000 fleet vehicles for various companies.

To accomplish that, the company will need technical workers such as engineers, electricians and lab technicians. Company President David Sterrett said the jobs will pay “above prevailing wage” but was not more specific. He said hiring is scheduled to begin before the end of June.

Sterrett said EV Performance is in the process of securing a building and workers could be converting cars to electric in Lansing by the third quarter.

The converted fleet vehicles will sell for $25,000 to $30,000, he said.

EV also plans to do personal car conversions that would cost $8,000 to $15,000, depending on the age and condition of the car and how far a driver would like to be able to drive on a single battery charge.

Hat tip to Kevin.

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