Gary Wilson

Seems like we should have a data center pause button to press until all the issues can be properly vetted. Right now it's ready, fire... aim.

Amazon plans $15B data center campuses in Northwest Indiana for state’s largest construction project Amazon plans to spend $15 billion for the largest construction project in Indiana history, building data center campuses in Northwest Indiana.

Not a lot of detail in this proposed NW data center story. But siting likely cuz of proximity to Lake Michigan.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/24/a...

You can add the massive amounts of water that data centers require to the list of things, like bottled water, that the Great Lakes Compact doesn't govern. The threat to Great Lakes water is greater from within the basin than from arid western states.

Trump’s First EPA Promised to Crack Down on Forever Chemicals. His Second EPA Is Pulling Back. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin claims to prioritize combatting long-lasting chemicals called PFAS. Despite this, the agency has delayed enforcement of standards and terminated over $15 million in fundin...

If EPA admin Zeldin had any environmental cred when appointed, wasn’t it on PFAS? Now this. @annaleighclark.bsky.social reports.
www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Are wetlands a retained environmental hobby? We sing their praises but protection lags. Illinois has no state-level plan and Michigan slashed its wetlands budget by two-thirds.

ICYMI: Nature via wetlands provides a cost free way of keeping pollutants out of waterways. So why do we neglect them? The push, pull of protecting wetlands versus economic development. More here.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Are wetlands a retained environmental hobby? We sing their praises but protection lags. Illinois has no state-level plan and Michigan slashed its wetlands budget by two-thirds.

An expert says wetlands are the "last line of defense" before pollutants reach the Great Lakes. So why do we treat them like a retained environmental hobby? My thoughts here.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Are wetlands a retained environmental hobby? We sing their praises but protection lags. Illinois has no state-level plan and Michigan slashed its wetlands budget by two-thirds.

Are wetlands a retained environmental hobby? We sing their praises but protection lags. Illinois and Michigan as examples. My thoughts here.
open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

The Great Lakes Academy -- Lesson II How do the Fab Five stack up against the world's large lakes?

A good primer here from Traverse City's Dave Dempsey on the size of the world's lakes. Great Lakes followers, before you get all braggy, read on. It's complicated.
open.substack.com/pub/dempseyd...

One former EPA exec told me it might take 10+ years to recover from this administration's actions.

Pope Francis, Judge "Odie" and People of the Dune Judge "Odie" Holmes and Pope Francis Find Common Ground

Pope Francis, Judge "Odie" and People of the Dune from Traverse City enviro law attorney, Jim Olson. A good read here if you care about our common home. open.substack.com/pub/jim901/p...

Feds eye new option for Michigan Line 5: No concrete tunnel, horizontal drilling - Bridge Michigan As it weighs the fate of Line 5, the US Army Corps of Engineers is quietly pitching a major alternative: Rather than moving the pipeline into a concrete tunnel, Enbridge could use ‘horizontal directio...

Not a good look for the Army Corps.

'Feds eye new option for Michigan Line 5: No concrete tunnel, horizontal drilling.' The Corps did not issue a widely-distributed press release alerting the media to the new developments — an atypical move for the agency...
bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Howell Township officials under pressure to approve $1 billion data center: 'DTE is going to have to pivot' The Howell Township board is set to review a six-month data center moratorium Thursday following resident pushback against a $1 billion proposal.

Red flags on data centers. Pressure on local municipal officials to make decisions, non-disclosure agreements and fast-tracking the approval process. @planetdetroit.org's ongoing reporting.
planetdetroit.org/2025/11/howe...

@wdcb909.bsky.social Leslie Keros, TY for Rachel Price today.

Anti-nuclear groups file suit against Palisades restart in southwest Michigan - Bridge Michigan The groups have accused the plant’s owners of a “bait-and-switch” that has cleared regulatory shortcuts to approving the plant’s reopening. They fear the aging plant can’t be reopened safely — an asse...

Anti-nuclear groups haven't given up the fight against the re-start of an aged nuke plant that borders Lake Michigan. Current MI Gov. Whitmer and former MI Gov and Biden energy exec Granholm support the re-start. Both are Dems.
bridgemi.com/michigan-env...

Water headed toward a tipping point? The Colorado River is in dire straits, the Great Lakes region is resting on past accomplishment laurels and the federal government is non-functional

Water at a tipping point: Today, the Colorado River. Tomorrow, the Great Lakes? Because the existing pillars of government and water sustainability are no longer reliable. My thoughts here.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Thx Don!

Water headed toward a tipping point? The Colorado River is in dire straits, the Great Lakes region is resting on past accomplishment laurels and the federal government is non-functional

Water headed toward a tipping point? The Colorado River is in dire straits, Great Lakes states are resting on past accomplishments and the federal government is non-functional.
open.substack.com/pub/garyglx5...

And a closer look.

Chicago approaching from the west as seen from a CTA car.

Chicago - Line to drop off at the local food bank.

Single use plastic getting scrutiny cuz of microplastics. Reminded me of a 2019 conf of Great Lakes governors where bottled water was everywhere. Told a staffer it was a bad look for the govs. Staffer shrugged as if to say, it is what it is.

Not a big fan of this type of venture but wishing O'Brady safe travels. Thx @ashrouten.com for the coverage.

Journalists are critical as environmental protection fades Recognizing the work of three Michigan journalists on the environment beat

ICYMI: As environmental protection lags in D.C. and Michigan, it's important to support the journalists working in that space. Here, three from Michigan deserving of your attention. Carol Thompson, Brian Allnutt and Kelly House.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/journalist...

Journalists are critical as environmental protection fades Recognizing the work of three Michigan journalists on the environment beat

Journalists are critical as environmental protection fades. Recognizing three Michigan reporters on the environment beat.
garyglx5.substack.com/p/journalist...

ICE or no ICE….. full CTA train in Chicago.

Colorado River: States miss their deadline on a deal, but they’re still talking • Utah News Dispatch Utah and six other states don't have a deal on managing the dwindling Colorado River, but negotiations aren’t over.

'Colorado River states miss conservation plan deadline.' If the states can't agree, the Trump Interior Dept could intervene. Ponder that about one of the most critical waterways in the U.S.
utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/11/11/c...

Trump administration planning to allow oil and gas drilling off California coast Plan, which Gavin Newsom, the governor, has said would be ‘dead on arrival’, will allow six lease sales from 2027 to 2030

‘Trump administration planning to allow oil and gas drilling off California coast.’ I’ve driven the Calif Pacific Coast SF to Oregon many times. This is lunacy. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

As Mi Gov Whitmer enters her last year, what legacy will she leave? Tax breaks for biz like data centers and more? Yes. Cozying up to Trump in the WH? Maybe. Protecting and conserving water? Nope. Using the gravitas of her office to enact affordable drinking. water legislation? No.

Trump officials set to approve ‘forever chemical’ as pesticide ingredient Critics say that fifth Pfas Trump’s EPA has proposed for approval this year would put food and water supply at risk

Headline: Trump officials set to approve ‘forever chemical’ as pesticide ingredient. 'The top four positions in the new Trump EPA’s chemical safety office that includes the pesticide division are held by former pesticide and chemical industry lobbyists...'
www.theguardian.com/environment/...