Smart Blog of the Week from ELPC’s Colleagues
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
ELPC Colleagues,
Many of our partners, friends and supporters have websites and blogs that share their strategic thinking on important environmental, clean energy and natural resource conservation issues in our Midwest communities and nationally. Each week, I’ll be sharing with you a particularly interesting website or blog post for your education and engagement. Let’s kick things off this April – right before Earth Day – with two recent posts for your reading interest.
Suggestions and ideas welcomed!
Best wishes,
Howard
Michigan Land Use Institute Blog on Why Detroit’s Public Transit Is Vital
This “post of the week” comes from Jim Lively, a planner and program director at the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), a long-time ELPC partner in Northern Michigan. Jim’s post “Detroit Transit Vital to the Whole State” explains his views on why the Michigan Legislature should create the state’s first regional transit authority in the Detroit Metro Area:
“But economists know that Michigan’s future, including Traverse City’s, is inextricably connected to the fate of Detroit. And Detroit cannot succeed if Michiganders don’t stop the terrible, twin trends of public disinvestment and population loss from our state’s largest city.
Perhaps the most glaring example of disinvestment is the lack of a regional public transportation system that can move people between city and suburbs. Realtors, developers, and demographers confirm that cities without effective transit systems are not attractive to the young knowledge workers who are driving the new economy.”
The Scoop: Jim Lively’s blog post describes how the proposed regional transit authority would better connect Detroit to the suburbs and shows the problems facing cities that lack regional transport. Thanks Jim and MLUI, for your post and work on better transportation in Michigan.
Real the whole story here: http://mlui.org/blogs/?p=2811
Amanda Hanley’s WREN Blog
This “post of the week” comes from Amanda Hanley’s WREN Blog – “Winnetka Resident’s Eco Notes”. Amanda is an environmental consultant, activist and Mom writing about opportunities for people to be more conscious of sustainable living and talk about key environmental issues affecting our communities and the world. In this month’s “Winnetka’s Dirty Secret”, Amanda explains that coal plants are the principal source of electricity in Winnetka even as many residents would like to green their community:
“Winnetka’s power is not very clean. We are more dependent on coal than most every other town in Northern Illinois. When it comes to renewable energy, neighboring communities are set to reach much higher targets. Making matters worse, many North Shore towns have an opportunity to cut electricity rates (supply portion) up to 25% and get 100% green power. This option is not available in Winnetka.”
Winnetka is a member of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA). Amanda explains her views on the limited accountability, disclosure and standards for IMEA’s operations and how IMEA relies on polluting power supplies. She describes how some Winnetka residents are taking actions to make their community more environmentally friendly. Amanda also calls for knowledge sharing on this issue: the more people know where their electricity comes from, the more people can actively fight for cleaner, renewable electricity for their homes and businesses.
The Scoop: Amanda Hanley’s blog post in WREN this month effectively highlights the problems of Winnetka relying on polluting electricity supplies and missing out on clean, renewable energy opportunities. She’s right to urge people to take actions calling on IMEA to pursue more environmentally sustainable renewable energy supplies. Thanks Amanda, for your WREN blog post and call to action.
Read the whole article here: http://www.ecowren.net/2012/winnetkas-dirty-secret/
