A proposed 3,450-cow dairy in mid-Michigan is sparking fierce debate over clean water, antibiotic resistance and manure digesters. Supporters say it means jobs and renewable energy. Critics warn local rivers are already overwhelmed with dangerous contaminants associated with large livestock operations. The big question: how many animals can one watershed support?
TNL managing editor Brian Bienkowski visits the mid-Michigan community.
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Brian Bienkowski is the managing editor of The New Lede. He is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering the environment and human health. Prior to joining TNL, he was the senior editor of Environmental Health News for nearly a decade where he oversaw the newsroom and two regional bureaus. He was also the founder, producer and host of the Agents of Change in EJ podcast from 2020 to 2024.
Bienkowski has received multiple awards for his editing and reporting, including honors from the Association of Health Care Journalists, Columbia Journalism School, Hunter College and the Society of Environmental Journalists. He has a masters in environmental journalism from Michigan State University and lives in northern Michigan.
