May 5, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather A low-pressure system over the Tennessee Valley will drift northeastward Additional rainfall could total 1 to 2 inches or more a disturbance emerging from the Southwest should advance eastward and reach peak intensity by the middle of the week with storm-total rainfall reaching 2 to 4 inches or more from the southern half of the High Plains to the southern Atlantic Coast may occur from May 6-8 in the central Gulf Coast region mostly dry weather will prevail during the next 5 days in the upper Midwest and Far West building Western heat could lead to temperatures topping 95°F in California’s San Joaquin Valley and exceeding 105°F in parts of the Desert Southwest Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox By Ellie Borst | 05/05/2025 06:52 AM EDT A Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee will hear from witnesses on how to improve the cleanup and redevelopment effort chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment is looking for local and national views on the EPA brownfields program Interest in EPA’s brownfields program is growing as House Republicans look to use the dilapidated sites to advance the Trump administration’s energy dominance agenda announced he will hold a hearing this week to “hear local and national perspectives on the program,” according to a news release It’s the second hearing House members have held this year focused on brownfields which are often abandoned industrial sites currently or previously contaminated with dangerous pollutants that have been targeted for redevelopment EPA’s brownfields grants go to companies or local governments to turn the site of a previous steel mill into a community center or park The House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee held a hearing in March on how EPA’s program — which offers private-public partnership grants for technical assistance at the sites — can be better geared toward data centers semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure Request a FREE trial to receive unlimited access to WORDS BY MATTHA BUSBY Environmental toxicologist Dr. Danielle Stevenson has been collecting soil samples amongst the rubble and ash that once formed a family’s home in Altadena, Los Angeles. When the near-apocalyptic LA fires scorched the abode in January the incineration of its old pipes and electronic goods likely seeped carcinogenic arsenic and brain-damaging lead into the earth a blonde 38-year-old who wears protective gear over her clothing “The place I used to live burned down,” she said. But the Eaton and Palisades wildfires—which collectively burned more than 37,000 acres and killed 30 people—propelled her work into the spotlight “I was getting overwhelmed by messages from people saying Can we apply what you figured out where our house burned down?” she said Stevenson works to remove toxins from contaminated soils by seeding the land with native plants and mushrooms: mainly species naturally found at polluted sites that can withstand degraded conditions plants are designed to pull nutrients out of the soil which means they can extract toxic chemicals excel at eating dead stuff; some decomposer mushroom varieties could be particularly adept at consuming petrochemicals and lead “I’ve seen amazing reductions in contaminants in relatively short times with very few inputs,” said Stevenson without being treated—an inglorious practice known as “dig and dump”—though much of the fire detritus is deposited at in-state landfills Stevenson wants to demonstrate that a more sustainable way is possible “We do not live in a Cartesian world,” she said Rather than just storing up environmental issues for tomorrow, Stevenson founded the Centre for Applied Ecological Remediation and established the SoCal Post Fire Bioremediation Coalition to scale up her bootstrapped work in the post-burn aftermath With climate change worsening wildfire risk the importance of effective ecological remediation is only increasing Stevenson first trialed her technique in Taylor Yard The former railyard was a polluted wasteland before Stevenson arrived in 2022 Situated a stone’s throw away from the perfectly manicured lawn of the LA Dodgers’ stadium Taylor Yard site was bulldozed in 1988 and left completely devoid of life; the blunt hand of de-industrialization left in its wake an oil-soaked obsolete land that Stevenson says could have been mistaken for Mordor Petrochemicals and toxic metals suffocated the land like tentacles But life finds a way. Just as fungi were found growing at Chernobyl some decomposer shrooms naturally popped up at the old yard Stevenson, then a doctorate student in environmental toxicology at the University of California, Riverside, sowed oyster mushroom spores, telegraph weed, and California buckwheat seeds at the site in an attempt to boost the few signs of life that remained. After three months, petrochemical pollution at Taylor Yard halved; those contaminants were practically undetectable after a year She also replicated the study at two other LA sites: a former chroming facility and a former auto shop She is currently applying the method on other kinds of contaminated sites Following her last night of sampling in June 2023 The vehicle was filled with bags containing contaminated plants and fungi marked as biohazards “I found out months later that the police had destroyed and incinerated [the bags],” she said and to have the final samples destroyed with no process.” She is currently working to publish her findings in peer-reviewed journals and her latest experiments on the LA fires could garner the support Stevenson needs to scale up “Danielle’s work with the LA fires is going to be another landmark experiment,” said Dr an assistant professor of microbial ecology and soil health at the University of Connecticut who has collaborated on Stevenson’s research with emerging studies suggesting fungi can have a dramatic effect on soil regeneration “We’re doing a survey looking at the DNA and the soil nutrients and metals of what’s there now “It’s an emotional experience when you see signs of life beginning to return they have learned that the best approach is to first assess which microbes and plants are already present and can tolerate such extreme environments they “work with some of those species to be able to restore the degraded environment.” Mimicking nature and giving existing biological processes a boost are the keys to success “We always have that combination of decomposer fungi and some plants to address the contaminants.” This typically triggers “a cycle of regeneration that’ll turn a super industrially contaminated site into a blooming meadow,” she added who is applying for grant funding to conduct a mycoremediation field trial in the U.K. said that the budding sectors of bioremediation and mycoremediation are a source of hope “We need to stop treating soil like dirt,” he said this field is in the early proof-of-concept stage but Danielle’s research has centered on field studies which have shown that fungi and plants hold promise as agents of environmental cleanup in a real-world context.” which the company claims can decompose the discards into soil in just one year Another company, which Stevenson is not involved with, uses fungal mycelia—so-called “mushroom gold miners”—to filter precious metals from electronic waste. A different start-up has created mushroom coffins that biodegrade within 45 days The mycoeconomy could create a whole raft of new jobs if these methods prove effective. “There are contaminated sites everywhere, not being cleaned up, because conventional remediation is too expensive and isn’t feasible to address the scale of the problem,” she said. There are more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S She recalled watching in awe as the sprouting of plants attracted worms and birds to return to the land at Taylor Yard after the growth of the fungi “It’s an emotional experience when you see signs of life beginning to return,” she said receive a complimentary subscription to Atmos Magazine How Toxin-Munching Mushrooms Are Restoring Polluted Brownfields Atmos is a nonprofit media organization focused on the cross-pollination of climate and culture delivering award-winning journalism and creative storytelling through a biannual print magazine Our mission is to re-enchant people with nature and our shared humanity We inspire cultural transformation and illuminate solutions to heal and protect the planet—now Potato industry leaders say they are concerned about how USDA staffing cuts could impact disease mitigation efforts at the border Potato researcher and geneticist Dave Douches tells Brownfield the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is the industry’s last line of defense “They’re helping protect the farmers,” he says If we don’t have the APHIS arm of the USDA we’re really putting a lot of our agriculture at risk that’s a problem right now because there are some diseases in Canada that we don’t want crossing the border.” Kelly Turner says the institutional knowledge that’s being lost puts the U.S there’s a ton of people who work at USDA and APHIS that really have kind of been through the battles of negotiating trade and opening markets and in other places in the world,” she says Turner points to phytosanitary certifications the agency administers and interstate regulatory processes that could become disrupted by the loss of staffing More than 1,300 APHIS staff were among the 15,000 USDA employees who agreed to resign as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to downsize the federal government The objective of the complete paper is to showcase the successful digital journey of a brownfield in which digital solutions are enhancing recoverable volume and personnel and process efficiency; minimizing losses; and maximizing the return of investment in a field in the Amazon region The digital journey implemented has reduced the response time for atypical events in the producer wells from days to minutes optimizing production and waterflooding surveillance and reducing production losses significantly The field’s digital transformation began as an initial idea to transform all manual data gathering to remote monitoring and surveillance of all equipment at the subsurface and surface levels such as electrical submersible pump (ESP) downhole sensors surface pressure and temperature wellhead and manifold sensors an integrated asset-monitoring center was developed that relied on both physical and logical tools (software and programming) for operation The initial concept of the supervisory control and data-acquisition (SCADA) system was for it to operate in every flow station connected through a fiber-optic communications network the installation and programming of the SCADA system began along with the laying of fiber optics and the setup of equipment for each well in the field the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ flagship magazine presents authoritative briefs and features on technology advancements in exploration and production ISSN: 1944-978X (Online)ISSN: 0149-2136 (Print) Study shows 2024 was a record year for biodiesel economic impact A new study shows that the biodiesel industry helped contribute more than $42 billion to the US economy in 2024 director of regulatory affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America says the organization’s report makes it clear that 2024 was a record-setting year “These are real world results showing what we’re delivering for farmers “Economic Impact of Biodiesel on the US Economy in 2024,” says the industry generated $42.4 billion in economic activity supported 107,400 jobs and paid $6 billion in annual wages Shenk tells Brownfield almost half of the economic impact came from soybean growers that is economic value benefiting out soybean growing states $1.5 billion in wages and over 30,000 jobs.”    She says that the industry has the capability to produce 7.4 billion gallons diesel in the future which could contribute more than $60 billion annually to the US economy Wisconsin soil moisture levels vary as some planters get rolling Some Wisconsin farmers are glad to get a break from rain long enough to plant Cal Dalton raises about 13-hundred acres of hay and soybeans plus beef cattle near Endeavor in south-central Wisconsin “We hope to get the planter going by tomorrow There’s spots that have water standing in them yet I think we got about three and a half inches of rain here.” Andy Bensend raises 18-hundred acres of corn and 500 acres of wheat near Dallas in northwestern Wisconsin He tells Brownfield there is enough topsoil moisture for germination but he’s very concerned about the lack of subsoil moisture all the way to the west as far as you want to go The crop went in record fast and they’re dry and the big rain that we were supposed to have didn’t amount to much.” Bensend says soil temperatures finally exceeded 50 degrees over the weekend “We’re terminating the rye covers The rye covers are greened up pretty good We’re ready to really get after it this week if we can get everything to hold together.” Bensend says he planted a couple hundred acres of soybeans last week to see if University of Wisconsin recommendations to plant soybeans before corn works well for him he’ll be able to wrap up planting in about six days Indiana state budget cuts could impact Indiana agriculture long-term Some ag groups are concerned Indiana’s new budget will impact the long-term viability of the state’s ag industry Indiana Farm Bureau president Randy Kron says the state’s department of agriculture took the biggest hit they had a new revenue forecast,” he says “It was $2.4 billion less than they were projecting We understand that revenue is way down and there has to be cuts but we’re concerned that agriculture maybe took a bigger percentage of the cuts.” he tells Brownfield the Board of Animal Health was funded at its requested level “We did get funding for the animal disease diagnostic labs,” he says “With all of what’s going on in the livestock sector with avian influenza we just need them to be well prepared and well funded.” Kron says the organization remains focused on protecting farmers and will continue to work with lawmakers on the issue April 30, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather Stormy weather across the nation’s mid-section will slowly shift southward and eastward with rain lingering through the weekend across the Gulf and Atlantic Coast States Five-day rainfall totals should top an inch in most areas along and east of a line from the southern Plains to Lake Michigan with higher amounts (2 to 4 inches or more) possible across the mid-South locally severe thunderstorms will remain a threat for at least the next couple of days a new batch of stormy weather will arrive in the West with only the Desert Southwest expected to remain dry A surge of cool air will accompany the Western storminess Minnesota farmer seeks “peace of mind” with new farm bill Some farmers might be running short on patience as Congress continues work on a new farm bill Southwest Minnesota corn and soybean grower Bryan Biegler says he’s frustrated it’s taking so long “Talk about trying to something done there for quite some time they keep talking about it (and) hopefully they can get something figured out soon Just certainly to give a guy peace of mind kind of easier to plan for things knowing where things are at.” He tells Brownfield the tariff talk can also be discouraging “I’ve almost kind of quit listening to them just seems like it’s kind of driving you nuts after awhile So I guess not much you can do about it.” Biegler is a past president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and says commodity groups are working to communicate these and other concerns to lawmakers in Washington Flooded fields could result in fewer cotton acres May 2, 2025 By Filed Under: 2025 Planting Season, Arkansas, News Northeast Arkansas farmer Nathan Reed says waterlogged fields from last month’s floods will encourage some Delta farmers to plant fewer cotton acres this spring “We’ve got some fields that are still a few weeks off from planting,” he says “It seems like even the fields that aren’t flooded He says the USDA was already forecasting a decline in cotton acres and farmers have options if they switch “We are getting too late to plant corn in this area but soybeans are an easy crop to grow and they’re cheap.” Reed tells Brownfield he cut his planted acres in half this year due to the floods and a lack of profitability in cotton “Most people in the mid-south and Delta will tell you they’re growing cotton on a prayer this year we’ll have another year of sustained losses.” “Eighty-five to 95 cents per pound is the base where we feel we can make some money at cotton With prices ranging from the mid-to-high 60s it’s very difficult and it becomes a situation where you can’t outyield the problem.” Reed says he started planting cotton the final week of April and more planting will happen as temperatures warm up over the next week New Producer Economic Security Act re-introduced House Agriculture Committee says re-introduced bi-partisan legislation would offer a solution to farmland access for beginning farmers Illinois Democrat Nikki Budzinski says the New Producer Economic Security Act authorizes a new pilot program through the USDA “That’s one of the bigger obstacles we know for folks trying to get into agriculture is how can they acquire lands and compete with developers.”  She says “This would create a low interest loan program The bill was co-authored by Iowa Republican Zach Nunn “It means opening up the market assets so that a young first-generation farmer can participate.”  He says “These things are essential because this helps secure the domestic food system and it strengthens our workforce.” Budzinski says it’s an investment in the next generation of agriculture “It really is calling attention to the need for us to bring in young farmers into our ag industry.”  She says “We’ve been talking about this for some time that the average age of a farmer is 58 years old We’ve got to make sure we’re bringing up that next generation.” Both lawmakers want to see the legislation included in a new five-year farm bill Co-Executive Director of the National Young Farmers Coalition “The New Producer Economic Security Act comes at a time when farmers need us the most The bill comprehensively addresses the greatest barriers young and beginning farmers face while elevating local leadership and delivering material benefits for new producers.” Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says some corn and soybean planting has slowed across the state “There have been some delays now or some folks and planters that have been sitting,” he said “That’s because we’ve seen some widespread rain and some pretty significant rain in some places.” He tells Brownfield it’s both a good and bad scenario “We’ve been so dry and we need the moisture you don’t want to sit for too long before you get back in the field I do like to remind folks that this is what a more normal spring looks like.” But Naig says the state’s planting pace remains near the five-year average we’re going to get a really nice window here to really roll across the state.” Drought Monitor showed a significant 23% improvement for Iowa compared to the previous week April 25, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather a late-season snow event will unfold across the mountains of northern California and the western Great Basin with accumulations possibly reaching a foot on higher Sierra Nevada peaks high-elevation snow will spread as far east as the northern Rockies while an axis of 1 to 2 inches of storm-total precipitation should occur from the southern Cascades and the Sierra Nevada into the upper Great Lakes region loosely organized shower activity across the nation’s mid-section will shift eastward with rain ending on Saturday in the Northeast showers and potentially severe thunderstorms will quickly redevelop across the Plains during the weekend well in advance of the approaching Western storm system April 24, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather showery weather across the central and eastern U.S will favor the development of winter grains and spring-sown crops with significant fieldwork delays limited to areas receiving heavier rain only areas along and near the Gulf Coast will remain completely dry while 5-day rainfall totals could reach 1 to 3 inches across the central and southern Plains Rain will be accompanied by spotty severe thunderstorms especially through Thursday across the central and southern Plains generally dry weather will prevail in the West during the next couple of days showery weather will develop from Oregon and northern California to the northern Rockies May 2, 2025 By Filed Under: 2025 Planting Season, News, South Dakota South Dakota farmer Jason Frerichs says the early spring is a win for area farmers “It was almost too good to be true,” he says there wasn’t any snow and it doesn’t look like it’s too cold or wet Frerichs says corn and soybeans have been planted in between timely rains “We’ve had half-inch or quarter inch rains that have come sporadically here to help us get crops in We’ll be ready to go in the field once things dry up after the recent rains.” He says the spring wheat and winter wheat are faring ok Frerichs says planting should wrap up by mid-May and then attention will turn to applying crop protection products An Ohio.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the State of Ohio A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website Share sensitive information only on official and personal information are protected by federal and state digital security standards and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced $86.1 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 81 hazardous brownfield sites in 46 counties The Ohio Department of Development is awarding the funding through the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program which was created by the DeWine-Husted Administration in 2021 Today’s announcement includes approximately $82.1 million for 65 cleanup/remediation projects and $4 million for 16 assessment projects.  the Department of Development has awarded $636 million to support 626 projects in 86 counties.  Funds awarded today will help assess and clean up industrial and institutional brownfield sites that are abandoned or underutilized due to a known or potential release of hazardous substances or petroleum properties can be redeveloped to revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic development DETAILS: Full List of New Brownfield Remediation Projects The Ohio General Assembly is funding the program through the current operating budget Ohio's 88 counties were each eligible for at least $1 million in funding with the remaining funds awarded on a first-come New projects receiving awards include:   The Brownfield Remediation Program is part of Governor Mike DeWine's Ohio BUILDS Initiative which focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact quality of life Minnesota farmer concerned about trade uncertainties A Minnesota farmer is worried trade uncertainties will make grain marketing more difficult Chad Willis grows corn and soybeans near Wilmar “With the tariffs and everything going on that kind of throws a wrench into the normal routine.” (commodity prices) are under the cost of production so it’s hard to do a lot of forward sales But sooner or later I guess you’ve got to be optimistic and things will turn around.” Grains Council and says foreign markets are very important April 23, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather mild weather will prevail for the remainder of the week across much of the central and eastern U.S The most concentrated area of storminess should develop across the central and southern Plains late Wednesday before shifting across the Ohio Valley by Friday and the Northeast on Saturday Five-day rainfall totals could reach 1 to 3 inches or more from the central and southern Plains into the Northeast although most areas east of the Rockies—excluding Florida— should receive some precipitation dry weather will prevail through week’s end in the Southwest while isolated showers will accompany lingering cool conditions in the Northwest large parcels of land for development or redevelopment are hard to come by But a new project may be a rare opportunity to reimagine a current industrial brownfield site and bring people back to the city the former National Acme building on East 131st Street will be demolished and the newly vacant land remediated Combined with an adjacent parcel of 22 acres acquired by the city and once occupied by Republic Steel the combined plot will offer 37 acres to attract businesses and jobs back into the city The Acme site in its heyday was a national leader in the manufacture of machine tools but has been shuttered for decades We will begin Wednesday’s “Sound of Ideas” with the stakeholders on the remediation project including the Cuyahoga Land Bank and the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund.  we'll bring you an excerpt from our podcast “Living for We: Keep Ya Head Up.” The newest episode of the podcast focuses on mothers who have lost children to gun violence The grief has driven these mothers to try and transform their pain into lasting change so that no other family or community is torn apart by tragedy We'll end the hour with a feature from Ideastream Public Media’s Arts and Culture team on the Karamu Arts collective exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund- Marlene Harris-Taylor Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance- Marshawnette Daniels Many ag groups want 2023 WOTUS rule to reflect Sackett decision May 2, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Policy, Human Interest, News Many agricultural groups are encouraging the US EPA to revise the 2023 Waters of the U.S The agency is currently seeking stakeholder feedback as it works on key aspects of the definition of WOTUS says the state’s farmers have dealt with regulatory uncertainty for decades as guidance for WOTUS has changed under new presidential administrations “We need bright jurisdictional lines,” he says “That’s why we support the agency’s plan to better align the current rule with the Sackett decision and provide more certainty to Clean Water Act enforcement.” Hawkins says clear definitions for relatively permanent surface connection are essential “Ephemeral and intermittent waters must be excluded because they are not by law or logic vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the nation’s cattle producers need a rule that is practical and durable “Cattle producers who have owned land since the passage of the Clean Water Act have dealt with 14 different regulatory iterations of WOTUS,” she says “This severely limits the land owner’s ability to plan for the future.” The listening session for industry and agriculture stakeholders was the third of six listening sessions the EPA is holding COLUMBIANA — Close to home is where Sheldon Brownfield returned to serve after being finishing a stint in the military After growing up in the Lisbon and Salem areas the 2013 Salem High School graduate joined the U.S serving as a military police officer for six years “It was a great learning experience,” Brownfield explained It translated into his joining Columbiana City Police Auxiliary in 2019 before eventually being hired part-time in 2020 and full-time in September 2021 Drug interdiction is Brownfield’s niche area — and those holidays potentially with a lot of substance abuse whether it be alcohol or illegal drug consumption –tend to be busy Especially since a lot of state routes like 7 46 and 11 tend to go through Columbiana jurisdiction Patrick’s Day weekend was wild this year,” he noted Unlike many who have a fascination with drug inv Clair Police Officer Isabell (Izzy) Perez takes a few minutes for photos with Judge Tim McNichol Brownfield has no aspirations to be a K-9 officer himself 365 days-a-year jobs,” he explained that he would prefer to just be partnered with a K-9 handler with a high drive dog Still relatively new in the field on the streets does aspire to be assigned to a Special Response Team “I am just working my way up to it,” he added Despite it still being early in his career Brownfield has been racking up the awards and commendations Columbiana recognized him for OVI enforcement traffic safety and criminal patrol efforts as well as giving him a commendation for his actions the night handling a distraught and suicidal youth in the station’s parking lot This is the second year that he had been recognized for OVI enforcement traffic safety and criminal patrol efforts — reflective of his proactive nature on the job Brownfield also holds certifications for EMS and fire having served previously in departments like Perry Township for 10 years the SHS alumnus enjoys the outdoors and doing activities like golfing SALINEVILLE — Southern Local High School senior Logan McCartney has been chosen as the Salineville Kiwanis .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio | https://www.morningjournalnews.com | 308 Maple Street An economist with the University of Missouri says the Trump administration’s waiver allowing sales of E15 fuel blends this summer isn’t a long-term solution “Monday’s announcement of year-round E15 follows a similar pattern from the last couple years,” Ben Brown said Brown says biofuel producers and fuel retailers have been frustrated with a lack of permanent policy “Quite a few businesses and companies aren’t willing to make the investment.” He tells Brownfield a timeline for a federal fix is unknown which creates uncertainty in the market “What’s unique about this is there was the proposal to just go ahead and allow E15 year-round and not have to provide these waivers,” Brown said “And then some governors were able to basically hold it up in court.” Senator Chuck Grassley recently said work on a federal E15 solution could get pushed back as Congress focuses on tax policy and a new five-year farm bill Brown made his comments during Brownfield’s Weekly Commodity Market Update April 21, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather active weather across the central and eastern U.S will lead to widespread showers and locally severe thunderstorms with only Florida and environs escaping without precipitation Five-day rainfall totals could reach 1 to 3 inches from the central and southern Plains to the Mississippi Delta and the Tennessee Valley The risk of strong to severe thunderstorms should peak on Tuesday and Wednesday across the central and southern Plains mostly dry weather will prevail in the West with scattered showers generally limited to the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest Parts of the Northwest may face a brief period of frost and sub-freezing temperatures Some features on this page require the use of a different browser The links on this page will redirect you to the OCULUS database where you can use the "PUBLIC OCULUS LOGIN" button to access the database and retrieve the desired document(s).  Return to the Florida Brownfields Area and Site Documentation page There are currently no Events/Public Notices that match the selected criteria and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced more than $52 million in support for brownfield remediation and building demolition projects across the state.   Today’s announcement represents the sixth round of funding for both programs.   The Ohio Brownfield Remediation grants announced today total more than $29 million to clean up and redevelop 36 hazardous brownfield sites in 23 counties including nearly $10 million in funding for the remediation and redevelopment of the former Terrace Plaza Hotel a historically significant part of Cincinnati’s Central Business District the building will be redeveloped into residential apartments Since the launch of the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program the Department of Development has awarded more than $490 million to support 462 projects in 84 counties Round 6: Full List of New Brownfield Remediation Projects  The Ohio Demolition and Site Revitalization grants announced today total $23.3 million to demolish 292 vacant including the demolition of a former student housing facility on Capital University’s campus in Bexley Since the launch of the Ohio Demolition and Site Revitalization Program more than $270 million in grants has been awarded to support more than 5,000 demolition projects in every county in the state.  Both programs are part of Governor Mike DeWine's Ohio BUILDS Initiative and the demolition of blighted buildings.  Ohio Department of Development:  Mason Waldvogel, Deputy Chief, Media Relations 614-961-1688 Mason.Waldvogel@development.ohio.gov Duties on Mexican tomatoes likely this summer April 21, 2025 By Filed Under: Farmer, News, Specialty Crops, Trade Department of Commerce says its current agreement with Mexico to protect U.S and antidumping duties will go into effect in July Fourth-generation Michigan tomato grower Fred Leitz testified during the initial investigation before the International Trade Commission in 2019.  now it affects all tomato growers across the country in all regions,” he shares He tells Brownfield tomato growers have been asking the commission to investigate dumping since 1996 and domestic production has dwindled in the meantime “The industry is almost non-existent,” he says Leitz says he is concerned Mexican importers could absorb additional duties and still sell into the U.S for less than what he can produce because of the significant difference in labor costs The Florida Tomato Exchange says since 1996 Mexican tomato imports have surged nearly 400 percent Terminating the 2019 Agreement to Suspend the Antidumping Investigation of Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico will result in more than 20 percent duties placed on most imports of tomatoes from Mexico tomato industry called for the suspension in 2023 and was supported by more than 60 bipartisan members of Congress and 15 fruit and vegetable trade associations across the country April 28, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather a low-pressure system traversing the upper Midwest will provide the focus for a significant precipitation event with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain expected from parts of the Dakotas into northern Minnesota Locally severe thunderstorms will develop along the system’s trailing cold front from the upper Mississippi Valley to the southern Plains Thunderstorms will linger through Tuesday when the axis of concern for severe weather will extend from the lower Great Lakes region to the southern Plains the tail of the cold front will remain active leading to additional showers and thunderstorms from the southeastern Plains into the mid-South and middle Mississippi Valley Five-day rainfall totals could reach 2 to 4 inches or more from central Texas into the lower Midwest any lingering showers should shift into the South and East while a new round of storminess will arrive in the Northwest The redevelopment of the Homer City Generating Station in Pennsylvania represents an important transformation from a decommissioned coal-fired power plant to a state-of-the-art natural gas-powered data center campus showing the creative reuse of a large brownfield site and the creation of what can be a significant location in power generation and the digital future The redevelopment will address the growing energy demands of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing technologies while also contributing to Pennsylvania's digital advancement in an area not known as a hotbed of technical prowess the original generating station was a 2-gigawatt coal-fired power plant located near Homer City The site was formerly the largest coal-burning power plant in the state the owners announced its closure due to competition from cheaper natural gas and the rising costs of environmental compliance The plant was officially decommissioned on July 1 The redevelopment project, led by Homer City Redevelopment (HCR) in partnership with Kiewit Power Constructors Co. plans to transform the 3,200-acre site into the Homer City Energy Campus via construction of a 4.5-gigawatt natural gas-fired power plant making it the largest of its kind in the United States This plant will utilize seven high-efficiency, hydrogen-enabled 7HA.02 gas turbines supplied by GE Vernova ​The GE Vernova gas turbine has been seeing significant interest in the power generation market as new power plants have been moving to the planning stage The GE Vernova 7HA.02 is a high-efficiency hydrogen-enabled gas turbine designed for advanced power generation applications and fuel adaptability.​ Hallmarks of the equipment include: Power Output and Efficiency: In simple cycle operation the 7HA.02 delivers a net output of approximately 384 megawatts (MW) with a net efficiency of 42.6% When configured in a 1x1 combined cycle setup it achieves a net output of about 573 MW and a net efficiency of 63.4% the net output increases to approximately 1,148 MW with a net efficiency of 63.6% Hydrogen Capability: The 7HA.02 is capable of operating on fuel blends containing up to 50% hydrogen by volume with a technological pathway to accommodate 100% hydrogen in the future This capability supports efforts to reduce carbon emissions in power generation Operational Flexibility: The turbine can ramp up to full load in less than 30 minutes It also features a turndown capability to approximately 33% of its full load maintaining emissions compliance during low-demand periods Fuel Versatility: Designed to accommodate a wide range of gaseous fuels—including natural gas and hydrogen—as well as liquid fuels such as #2 diesel and crude oils This versatility allows operators to optimize fuel use based on availability and economic factors Environmental Impact: Utilizing the 7HA.02 in a combined cycle configuration can lead to significant reductions in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional coal-fired power plants The 7HA.02's combination of high efficiency and fuel flexibility makes it a suitable choice for modern power plants aiming to balance performance with environmental considerations.​ highly efficient and advanced HA gas turbine technology and combined cycle equipment for the Homer City Energy Campus This project demonstrates the best in what investing in power can do; more affordable and reliable energy for everyone revitalizing local economic development benefits with thousands of skilled jobs and enabling Pennsylvania to help lead the future of AI Development of a data center campus designed to meet the increasing demands of AI and HPC technologies is a significant part of the redevelopment project The campus will leverage existing infrastructure including transmission lines connected to the PJM and NYISO power grids The natural gas development centers on the local Marcellus Shale the second largest natural gas find in the world With an initial capital investment projected to exceed $10 billion for power infrastructure and site readiness with data center development expected to inject billions more This is also the largest such investment in the history of the state The establishment of the Homer City Energy Campus is pivotal for several reasons; not the least of which is that the project exemplifies a shift from coal to cleaner natural gas energy sources reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 60–65% per megawatt-hour compared to the former coal plant expressed his company’s commitment to the project Kiewit is excited to help advance what is poised to become the nation’s largest natural gas-powered plant We’ve been pleased by how quickly all parties have worked to make this project shovel-ready all while holding firm to the highest standards of safety and quality – principles we live by at Kiewit We look forward to continuing our tradition of collaboration and moving with purpose as we enter the next phase on the ground The transformation of the Homer City Generating Station into a natural gas-powered data center campus aligns with broader goals of energy transition marking a significant milestone in accelerating Pennsylvania's digital future the campus will be able to position Pennsylvania as a leader in digital innovation attracting technology companies and fostering economic growth.  Pennsylvania is steadily positioning itself as a strategic hub for data infrastructure in the Northeastern U.S. drawing investment from hyperscale and enterprise users alike While it may not yet rival Northern Virginia or Chicago a combination of favorable real estate economics and proximity to major metros like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh is creating fertile ground for digital infrastructure growth Here’s a look at the most significant data center developments reshaping the state’s landscape in 2025 near ReadingDeveloper: CloudHQCapacity: 2.4 million square feet across four buildings CloudHQ is making a bold statement in Berks County with its planned $2 billion data center campus near the I-78 corridor is positioned to serve major cloud tenants looking to reach both New York and Virginia with low-latency connections The company secured key land and zoning approvals in 2024 and construction on the first 600,000 square-foot facility is now underway With CloudHQ’s typical hyperscale build-to-suit approach the project is expected to bring long-term power deals and edge connectivity that could anchor the region’s digital economy Location: Greater Philadelphia RegionPlayers: TierPoint Philadelphia continues to see incremental enterprise and wholesale demand especially in urban-adjacent zones where low-latency access is key TierPoint has expanded its Valley Forge facility to support regional SaaS and financial services clients STACK Infrastructure and Compass Datacenters are both reportedly evaluating sites in the western suburbs drawn by Pennsylvania’s more favorable tax structures compared to neighboring New Jersey and fintech sectors is attracting infrastructure investment particularly in the AI and R&D sectors Location: Luzerne and Lackawanna CountiesProjects: QTS exploratory activity the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre corridor is now drawing serious interest from data center developers multiple parcels were quietly acquired by site selectors representing national REITs and hyperscale operators The region’s ample brownfield sites and existing transmission infrastructure—legacy assets from its industrial past—make it attractive for energy-intensive uses Although no major builds have broken ground yet sources close to regional utilities suggest active discussions about future power allocations and substation upgrades near PittsburghCompany: Aligned Data Centers (speculative site)Activity: Land optioning and power interconnection planning the Pittsburgh metro has been on Aligned’s radar with Westmoreland Innovation Park emerging as a likely candidate for future development and relatively low land costs could support a multi-phase campus aimed at AI training or modular expansion Aligned has reportedly engaged regional power cooperatives and university partners suggesting a long-term play aligned with AI-driven enterprise workloads Edge infrastructure is also seeing traction in Philadelphia’s innovation corridor A new micro data center deployment near Drexel University—developed in partnership with Digital Realty and local researchers—is supporting precision medicine and AI drug discovery applications signal a growing convergence of high-performance compute with life sciences R&D While Pennsylvania isn’t yet a top-tier data center state Between hyperscale activity in Berks County and future-facing site development across the state the Keystone State is carving out a unique position in the national data center map—where power and AI workload demand as key indicators of where the next big groundbreakings will occur At Data Center Frontier, we talk the industry talk and walk the industry walk. In that spirit, DCF Staff members may occasionally use AI tools to assist with content. Elements of this article were created with help from OpenAI's GPT4. and signing up for our weekly newsletters using the form below Now brambles cluster around them; the site’s rusty gate has long been padlocked the Bromley-by-Bow gasworks have a prized site: a stone’s throw from Hackney Wick This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “City limits ” Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents For Labour, it’s a problem; for the Conservatives, an existential threat The Supreme Court’s ruling on sex was the easy part. Implementing it will be harder But progress in reforming them is sluggish Possibly because the least successful migrants have left Britain has become shabbier and more disorderly. Voters have noticed April 17, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather Loosely organized storminess over the western U.S leading to an increasing threat— starting late Friday—of heavy showers and locally severe thunderstorms from the southeastern Plains into the lower Midwest Five-day rainfall totals could reach 2 to 4 inches or more from central Texas into Ohio including the Ozark Plateau and the middle Mississippi Valley Heavy rain will likely extend into areas of the mid-South and lower Midwest still experiencing lowland flooding in the wake of early-April downpours mostly dry weather will prevail during the next 5 days in the middle and southern Atlantic States and the Far West Cool weather will trail the departing storminess with widespread weekend freezes expected across the northwestern half of the Plains extending at least as far south as eastern Colorado and western Kansas and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced $106.9 million in state support to help clean up and redevelop 61 hazardous brownfield sites in 22 counties Today’s announcement includes approximately $102.4 million for 35 cleanup/remediation projects and roughly $4.5 million for 26 assessment projects.  "There is no easy way to clean up the contamination at these sites; they all need expert remediation that's too costly for communities to take on alone," said Governor DeWine we're helping local communities reclaim hazardous properties so that they can be reimagined and redeveloped." “These grants will take hazardous properties and turn them into valuable economic assets for residential and commercial development,” said Lt “I am hopeful these sites will serve to provide new businesses and new homes for the next generation of Ohioans.” MORE DETAILS: Full List of New Brownfield Remediation Projects The Ohio General Assembly is funding the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program through the current operating budget Ohio's 88 counties were each eligible for at least $1 million in funding properties can be redeveloped to revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic development.  the Ohio Department of Development has awarded more than $450 million to support 374 projects in 83 counties Additional awards will be announced in the coming months this program is turning challenges into opportunities,” said Director Mihalik “These funds will empower our community leaders to create safe vibrant spaces that attract investment and enhance the lives of Ohioans.”  New projects receiving awards include:  Cash dairy prices were all higher for a second straight day Friday on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.    Forty-pound cheese blocks were up $0.0050 at $1.76.  Three sales were recorded Cheese barrels were up $0.02 at $1.7550.  Two sales were recorded  One sale was recorded at that price.  Nonfat dry milk was up $0.0150 at $1.1950.  Two sales were recorded at $1.19 to $1.1950.  Minnesota FFA students commit to ag education April 29, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Education, FFA, Minnesota, News More than 20 Minnesota FFA students pledged to become ag teachers during the Minnesota FFA Convention Tuesday Twenty-two Minnesota FFA members signed with nine universities and technical colleges during a ceremony to demonstrate the students’ intention to join the ranks of teachers who have instructed One of them is Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA Chapter vice president Emma Salisbury who says FFA has given her a clear career path “When I joined FFA back in 8th grade I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life after high school But throughout the years my ag teacher had a really big impact on me.” She tells Brownfield her goal is to have a similar impact in the classroom or there’s always like a party going on So I want to make sure that my students feel welcome in that classroom and I will make sure to do that so then they will keep coming back to me.” Salisbury plans on attending South Dakota State University in the fall with a major in ag education Interview with Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA vice president of Growing Leaders Anna Sievers: April 16, 2025 By Filed Under: Ag Weather, Brownfield Ag Weather Today, weather A surge of cool air into the Midwest and Northeast could result in scattered frost on Wednesday morning as far south as the lower Ohio Valley while any lingering Northeastern rain and snow showers will end by the middle of the week gusty winds should lead to a significantly elevated Southwestern wildfire threat during the next several days a sprawling but disorganized area of precipitation will develop by mid-week from the Sierra Nevada to the northern Rockies and northern Intermountain West with significant snow possible at higher elevations in Wyoming and environs with showers and thunderstorms expected to develop from the southern Plains into the Midwest Five-day rainfall could total 1 to 3 inches or more from central Texas into the middle Mississippi Valley Solar research suggests economic and water benefits for farmers Researchers at Michigan State University are studying how farmers can benefit from converting a portion of farmland into solar energy Earth and Environmental Sciences doctoral student Jake Stid tells Brownfield the land use change does reduce food production somewhat but growers significantly increase their economic resilience “Across the board for almost all of the scenarios that we collected the farmer is better off financially with the solar array than the food production on that same plot of land,” he says “And if you install smaller arrays where you can partake in net energy metering the farmer is more financially secure by a factor of about 25.” He says the study focused on Central Valley California farmers, where land is highly valuable and productive, but challenged by drought and water restrictions. “What we see is that solar is helping farmers keep farming while losing some of that production but maintaining the income that they would have had on that land,” he shares Stid says the benefits can be carried into other regions that are agriculturally important and have faced significant drought The project has led to a new study in Kansas that has placed arrays in unused portions of irrigated fields The arrays have been converted to collect rainwater and are expected to reduce evaporation which should increase overall water availability Stid says researchers would like to better understand how solar installation changes national food systems and how it physically changes the landscape next An ag economist says the markets haven’t been impacted by planting delays in parts of the Midwest University of Missouri’s Ben Brown says some areas have received a good amount of moisture over the last week “People always want you to come out and say ‘we’re way behind and the market should be rallying.’ Don’t get me wrong there’s a point in time where the market really starts to focus on that and it starts rallying quickly.” We’re here at the end of April and certainly if we have another month of this then people will start getting concerned.” Brown says weather forecasts can change quickly and he expects any potential market reaction to the planting pace to come in two or three weeks He made his comments during Brownfield’s Weekly Commodity Market Update Farmers approaching management decisions differently this year Some farmers say they’re taking a cautious approach to marketing and crop production decisions this year Nebraska farmer Doug Saathoff tells Brownfield it’s becoming harder to take advantage of commodity prices try to just sell a little bit here and there It’s kind of hard to do when things change it seems like every second of the day.” says he doesn’t want to make significant changes to his crop nutrient program “It costs a certain amount to put a crop out and there’s required fertility that you have to fertilize and sometimes the cost doesn’t matter because that incremental cost maybe hurts but the losses would far outweigh that the incremental cost.” and timely rains could help boost yields enough to offset price challenges May 1, 2025 By Filed Under: Closing Futures / Livestock Briefs, Crops Markets, Market News Soybeans were higher on short covering and technical buying Contracts had some help from a higher move in bean oil expecting generally solid progress over the next few days with rain delays balanced out by improved soil moisture 2024/25 export sales of 15.7 million bushels showed new demand from China but a quick tariff resolution remains unlikely Germany took second place and there was a notable cancelation by unknown destinations 2025/26 sales of 1.8 million bushels were all to Mexico Soybean meal was lower and bean oil was higher on the adjustment of product spreads The USDA says 207 million bushels of beans were crushed during March above the average guess and up 17 million bushels on the month and 3 million on the year Meal and oil stocks ended March 2025 below the March 2024 levels Argentina’s soybean harvest is ongoing while the harvest in Brazil is essentially over for the season.Corn was mixed Export sales were down on the week at 39.9 million bushels but the pace remains ahead of what’s needed to meet projections for the current marketing year The leading buyers were Mexico and Colombia but there was a big cancelation by unknown destinations New crop sales of 9.6 million bushels were mainly to Mexico and Honduras While more near-term planting delays are likely in some areas the soil moisture recharge is welcome as the crop starts to emerge and we get closer to key stages of development corn is watching the harvest in Argentina and second crop development weather in Brazil The USDA’s updated supply and demand estimates are out May 12th and CONAB’s refreshed outlook for Brazil is set for May 15th The USDA says 454.197 million bushels of corn were used for ethanol production in March 2025 climbing 8% from February but falling 4% from March 2024 Production of distillers dried grains with solubles was 1,805,691 tons but a decrease of 7% on the year.The wheat complex was mixed even as July Kansas City dipped to a new contract low and July Minneapolis declined The losses in KC were tied to forecasts for more rain in the forecast for parts of the southern Plains while nearly Minneapolis was pressured by good spring wheat planting progress The trade is also monitoring conditions near the Black Sea region in Russia and Ukraine It remains to be seen what impact the natural resources agreement between the U.S and Ukraine will have in regard to Russia’s war on Ukraine and export business Old crop export sales were bearish at 2.6 million bushels but new crop was solid at 8.8 million bushels Hard red spring wheat sales were a net reduction for the third week in a row but there was a large cancelation by unknown destinations the main purchasers were South Korea and unknown destinations The USDA says 916 million bushels of wheat were ground for flour in 2024 while 230 million bushels of wheat were ground during the first quarter of 2025 Farmer discusses planting delays in southern South Dakota A farmer in southeastern South Dakota says planting progress has slowed due to wet conditions Brian Hefty farms nearly 3500 acres with his brother Darren near Sioux Falls “We’re dealing with the same things everyone else is right now We’ve been out of the field for almost a week here because of the rain.” He tells Brownfield he prefers a dry winter and spring “Forever now I have prayed for drought starting the day harvest starts all the way until the day planting gets done in the spring I don’t care about spring moisture and don’t need spring moisture for the crops we’re raising but for the crops we’re raising we don’t need lots of moisture.” Hefty says many farmers in his area planted soybeans early “You want it to stay cold because if that crop gets up and it’s too big when we get our last frost We want to keep the crop small or even in the ground when we get that last frost Brian and Darren co-host the Ag PhD Radio program Slotkin pushes for specialty crop fair trade Senate Ag Committee member is calling on President Trump’s USDA Under Secretary for Trade nominee to go to bat for specialty crop growers Michigan’s Elissa Slotkin says unfair trade practices need to be addressed even in smaller markets  “I want you to go into battle with the country of Turkey on tart cherries,” she urged and I want to know what you will specifically do particularly for the specialty crop folks.” During his confirmation hearing, Luke Lindberg agreed to expand market access and cut down barriers wherever possible “The Foreign Agricultural Service does an excellent job of maintaining a list of nontariff barriers that our farmers are facing around the world and I will absolutely address those every time I get the chance overseas to meet with my counterparts in other countries and break those down,” he relied Slotkin says farmers are stressed about tariff retaliation and need more trade not welfare checks to compensate for their losses Direct cash cattle trade activity is relatively quiet following Wednesday’s scattered $8 higher than the previous week’s weighted average basis in Nebraska Southern live deals were marked at mostly $218 $5 to $6 higher than the prior week’s weighted averages Bids have resurfaced at $222 live and $350 dressed in the North Asking prices for cattle left on showlists are around $219-plus live in the South and $352-plus dressed in the North Boxed beef was mixed at midday on light and solid demand for solid offerings.  Choice is $2.57 lower at $342.74 and Select is $2.52 higher at $324.54.  The Choice/Select spread is $18.20.  Cash hogs are mixed at midday with solid negotiated purchases This week’s export sales were exponentially higher from last week and up 34 percent from the prior 4-week average but China remains absent from the purchaser list  The industry remains optimistic domestic demand will see a boost especially with summer grilling season just around the corner Barrows and gilts at the National Daily Direct are $.85 lower with a base range of $86 to $95 and a weighted average of $92.44; no comparison at the Iowa/Minnesota and the Western Corn Belt but weighted averages of $93.05 and $93.13 Prices at the Eastern Corn Belt were not reported due to confidentiality Butcher hog prices at the Midwest cash markets are $3 higher at $66 Pork values were firm at midday – up $.15 at $96.76.  Bellies and picnics were all higher.  Loins were lower.  Ribs were sharply lower WASHINGTON – The Iván Duque Center for Prosperity and Freedom is proud to announce its first distinguished fellow Holding the personal rank of Career Ambassador the highest rank in the US Foreign Service Ambassador Brownfield served as US Ambassador to Colombia (2007-2010) Ambassador Brownfield was also the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs “The Iván Duque Center advances leadership in liberty and private enterprise-driven solutions while examining security matters that impact foreign policy objectives,” said Ambassador Mark A “Ambassador Brownfield has dedicated his life to these principles.” and investment generate new challenges throughout the Americas the Iván Duque Center will play a key role in bridging to the future,” said Ambassador Brownfield “We look to be a source of creative thinking and open dialogue for all responsible nations of the Western Hemisphere.” As one of the Wilson Center’s newest additions to its mission the Iván Duque Center educates policymakers about the crucial role of the Western Hemisphere for both the US and the world Its main pillars are fostering economic growth by harnessing private enterprise “Ambassador William Brownfield is one of the most distinguished diplomats of the United States,” said President Duque along with his key roles in the State Department makes him a person who combines the pragmatism of policymaking with the idealism of working for a more dynamic integration within the international community It’s an honor for the Iván Duque Center to welcome Ambassador Brownfield as its first distinguished fellow." Ambassador Brownfield has received the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award and the Presidential Performance Award three times He is a graduate of Cornell University (1974) and the National War College (1993) he attended the University of Texas School of Law (1976-1978) An official website of the United States government JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. Please click here to see any active alerts EPA is selecting 16 communities to receive approximately $7.7 million in Brownfields Job Training Grants to recruit and train unemployed and underemployed individuals with the skills needed to secure long-term employment in the environmental field Each recipient will receive up to $500,000 to develop and operate environmental job training curriculums by providing opportunities for residents living in areas impacts by contaminated lands.  Thông cáo báo chí của EPA The video below offers an insightful overview of the Brownfields Job Training Grant Program showcasing a compelling example from a successful grantee EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of the information The cooperative agreement is negotiated after the selection announcement the funding amount and activities described in the selected applications are subject to change All funds from this announcement come from the historic once-in-a-generation $1.5 billion investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help turn brownfield sites across the nation into hubs of economic growth EPA anticipates making the awards once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.  The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported and some features of this site may not work as intended Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer.  and location are to brownfield redevelopment at the end of the day it’s a business built on relationships It’s easier to find solutions to problems that can crop up during a project if the developers and EGLE brownfield coordinators have a working relationship that goes back before the grant or loan was awarded That’s why EGLE is inviting participants to in-person Brownfield Stakeholder Workshops starting March 13 EGLE brownfield staff will provide an overview of the program including grants and loans and expedited environmental reviews for housing projects Time will be set aside for participants to offer direct feedback to EGLE staff The Brownfield Stakeholder Workshops are recommended for environmental consultants and anyone else who works on brownfield redevelopment projects Registration is closed for the Grand Rapids and Livonia events on March 4 and March 6 The remaining workshops run from 1pm-5pm on the following days: Reserve a spot Brownfield Redevelopment Program EGLE-Assist@Michigan.gov Take the opportunity to learn about your local drinking water during Drinking Water Week Liz Browne will serve as an executive point of contact for resolving priority permitting issues and support multi-agency collaboration to streamline permitting processes Michigan has reached a new record-high rate for fourth year running The events will provide public hands-on opportunities to assess health of waterways The winning entries came from schools located in Beverly Hills Save the dates for these NotMISpecies webinars in the coming months There are now 358 certified green schools in Michigan for the 2024-2025 school year – 15 more than the previous school year Percentage of materials recycled reaches new high for fourth consecutive year While all Michigan households – homeowners or renters – can pursue energy efficiency upgrades MiHER will prioritize households with incomes at or below 80% of their county’s Area Median Income (AMI) households are eligible for up to $34,000 in rebates lower barriers to clean energy across Michigan Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics Michigan.gov/Vote If you are looking to make a difference and be part of something greater, learn more about careers at EGLE and apply today Explore current vacancies