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Plugged In: With Prop. 3, Who Really CARES for Michigan?

Plugged In, Proposal 3, Power to Change | October 23, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

I was recently mugged by this commercial against Proposal 3, a/k/a the “Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs” proposal. There’s a spinning wind turbine, a doomy voice, and a meter rocketing from zero to $12 billion in 30 seconds flat—all to scare anyone who uses electricity. Turns out it was paid for by a group called CAREforMichigan. What does CARE stand for? Why, Clean Affordable Renewable Energy, of course. Really?...

Little Effect on Power Prices in States with Big Renewables Goals

Power to Change, Proposal 3 | October 17, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

Three states with renewable energy standards similar to those in Michigan’s Proposal 3—Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado—are seeing little or no rise in electricity prices, undermining claims that the ballot measure will sharply increase energy costs....

Plugged In: Prop. 3 and the True Meaning of ‘Skyrocket’

Plugged In, Proposal 3, Power to Change | October 17, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

Still mulling over whether Proposal 3, the renewable energy standard ballot initiative, will skyrocket your electric bill as utility ads claim? Well, here's a true story: Consumers wants to raise residential electric rates by an average of more than $11 per month, and it has nothing to do with renewables. And, in the year ending in July, DTE Energy raised residential rates by an average of 11 percent—largely due to the rising cost of coal. Now, that’s skyrocketing!...

Regional Rider: Frankfort, TC get a little closer

Choices, Regional Rider | October 17, 2012 | By James Bruckbauer

The Regional Rider is a monthly update that highlights the efforts to coordinate transit service in the six-county Grand Vision region. This month: Frankfort and TC get a little bit closer; Metro Detroit considers transit authority; coming events; and a new Bruckbauer on the bus. ...

Marohn: Big-box investments have long-term costs

Great Towns | October 17, 2012 | By James Bruckbauer

A speaker at a recent Mackinac Island convention spoke to city leaders from across the state about the long-term costs of big infrastructure investments like big-box stores. Chuck Marohn said they usually create impressive short-term financial gains for cities but almost always ends up crippling them with long-term debt....

Pigstock TC: Good food and a good cause

Healthy Food, 10 Cents, Farm to School | October 16, 2012 | By James Russell

Pigstock TC is back for its second year, and we wanted to make sure everyone know about the incredible opportunity to dine on some delicious local food while contributing to MLUI's "10 Cents a Meal" initiative....

10 Cents a Meal aims to bring local food to school cafeterias

Healthy Food, 10 Cents, Farm to School | October 15, 2012 | By Diane Conners

Would you chip in $1 if it meant 10 schoolchildren could eat locally grown fruits and vegetables at lunch on Monday? How about $10 for 100 kids? That’s about four classes full of children, bursting with energy and ready to learn new things. You can do just that by contributing to a new campaign that starts this fall for a program that could be in place by spring: 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms....

National Farm to School Month Celebrated in Area Schools

Healthy Food, Farm to School, FoodCorps | October 12, 2012 | By Daniel Marbury

Schools throughout northwest Lower Michigan are cooking up locally grown food for lunch this October and celebrating the second annual National Farm to School Month. ...

Farm Stand: Four more weeks for market … and the Farm Bill

Policy, Farmers Markets, Farm Bill | October 4, 2012 | By Diane Conners

The good news for food lovers in northwest Lower Michigan is that the bustling Traverse City farmers market has extended its two-day a week market season for four more weeks. And it’s also four more weeks before Congress gets back to work after the elections—and when House members ought to buck up and work to pass a Farm Bill that they let expire Sept 30. ...

Streets Should Connect, Not Divide

Choices | October 4, 2012 | By James Bruckbauer

On November 6, Traverse City voters will have a chance to take a crucial next step on one of the most important transportation challenges facing our city: Division Street....

FoodCorps Diaries: National Farm To School Month

Healthy Food, Farm to School, FoodCorps | September 27, 2012 | By Daniel Marbury and Kirsten Gerbatsch

Check out the great things that have been happening through FoodCorps Northwest Michigan, a project of the Michigan Land Use Institute, in our new segment: FoodCorps Diaries. National Farm To School Month is almost here. Daniel and Kirsten look back at last year’s celebration as they gear up for another busy month....

Norway Firm’s Local Factory Highlights Prop. 3’s Potential

Power to Change, Proposal 3 | September 26, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

If Michigan voters approve Proposal 3 on the November ballot, Norway's Dokka and several hundred other firms in the state’s renewables manufacturing sector will have good reason to expand their operations. Prop. 3 would more than double Michigan’s current renewable energy mandate, matching it with several of the state’s Midwestern manufacturing competitors, and quickly boosting the local market for turbine and solar panel parts....

Wyandotte’s utility ready to roar past Prop. 3’s renewables goal

Power to Change | September 20, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

If current negotiations work out, the Wyandotte Municipal Services utility soon will be getting a startling 30 percent of its power from renewable sources—five percentage points more and 13 years earlier than what Michigan utilities will have to achieve if Michigan voters approve Proposal 3 in November....

Farm Stand: Time is running out on Farm Bill

Policy | September 20, 2012 | By Diane Conners

House leaders are preparing to go home Friday without bringing up for a vote a Farm Bill that passed with bipartisan support in its own House Agriculture Committee. Waiting until next year is unacceptable....

Traverse City Rents Swell With Housing Demand

Great Towns | September 20, 2012 | By James Bruckbauer

Young people and young families want to live where they can bike downtown, walk to schools and parks, and shop at a nearby grocery store. But high rent prices are forcing them to the outlying areas where they have no choice but to drive to meet their basic needs....

The Vision Continues

Great Towns | September 20, 2012 | By Jim Lively

Four years ago, more than 12,000 citizens shared their vision for future growth and investment in our region. The Grand Vision was discussed in terms of decades, but there has already been tremendous community action to make some of those plans a reality. Community members are invited to celebrate this progress at a series of six Community Action Updates....

Op-Ed: Clean energy vital for lakes

Power to Change | September 18, 2012 | By Stanley "Skip" Pruss

On Nov. 6, voters will determine whether Michigan takes full advantage of a rare, golden opportunity to secure new investment, build new infrastructure, create jobs and enhance health and the environment for its citizens....

Will Voters Boost Michigan Jobs with More Michigan Energy?

Power to Change | September 12, 2012 | By Jim Dulzo

They’ve confirmed the petition signatures and approved the ballot language. Now, it’s up to Michigan voters: Should the state boost its mild-mannered renewable energy standard and position itself to become one of the country’s, and the world’s, leading manufacturers of renewable energy technologies?...

Train Travel Up North Closer To Reality

All Aboard | September 6, 2012 | By James Bruckbauer

Trains soon could be chugging along to northern Michigan, connecting Michigan families to large metropolitan areas like Detroit and Chicago. That is, of course, if the case can be made to upgrade the already state-owned tracks between here and Ann Arbor for freight rail, first....

Why we need the 25 x 25 renewable energy plan

Power to Change | September 4, 2012 | By Hans Voss

In November, Michigan voters can point toward a bright economic and environmental future by approving “25 x 25,” which requires that 25 percent of Michigan’s energy come from renewable sources by 2025....

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