Dave and some like-minded individuals created SolarYpsi in 2005 with the hope of making their hometown a solar power destination through tying solar power generation to the electrical grid.

Their web site showcases real-time reporting of electrical production via solar panels, tracking panels are located on top of the Ypsilanti Food Coop, the Riverstreet Bakery, Ypsilanti City Hall and an Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus stop.

Here's Google's Search Story Creator in case you want to try your hand. Head over to absolutemichigan.com/solar for more Michigan solar information.

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Clouds are Cooler than Smoke by Jon DeBoe

I guess it's Coal Week on Absolute Michigan. After taking a look back at the history of coal mining in the Saginaw Valley on Tuesday, we're back on the subject with news from the Great Lakes Echo.

Michigan coal-fired plants to close; wind and air to step up by Nick McWherter of the Capital News Service says that Consumers Energy will close seven coal-fired power plants in Michigan and has cancelled construction of another to focus on clean energy. In their news release on the topic, Consumer's President & CEO John Russell said that their investments - part of a $6.6 billion plan to add value to customers and improve the environment - were projected to create more than 2,000 construction jobs in Michigan and provide significant emissions reductions. Environmentalists concur:

“There are simply smarter ways to produce energy then relying on coal,” said Bruce Nilles, national director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. The inherent costs associated with mining and burning coal make clean energy more attractive, he said. Economically and environmentally, coal does not make sense.

Michigan is now in position to make strides in clean energy throughout the state, he said.

“There is a significant shift going on in the electric sector,” Nilles said. “Michigan has a chance to really be at the forefront. It has one of the oldest coal fleets in the country; many of these plants are literally teetering. It presents a tremendous opportunity to put people back to work and eliminate all the pollution that today is having such profound impacts across the state of Michigan.”

The motivation for the decision is Michigan’s Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy act. Established in 2008, the act requires utilities to supply 10% of their energy via renewables by 2015. Consumers is the second largest utility in the state and is at 5% renewable generation right now. Last month they also started construction of their first wind-farm, the Lake Winds Energy Park, part of a $1 billion investment in Mason County. Follow that link for details and a video from the Muskegon Chronicle.

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by Michael Lesich

The Red Scorpion Tower by jacalynsnana

Michigan is transitioning from its 20th Century industrial roots to a global, interconnected, knowledge- based economy. Decisions about the future of our state’s economic direction are being made in the boardrooms of private companies and the halls of our state capitol. The most important innovation of my lifetime, the Internet, relies increasingly on a solid broadband infrastructure (land-based and mobile), to carry exponentially increasing traffic. Robust and universal access to the Internet is vital to the companies and residents of Michigan and the United States. However, we are still a long way from that critical goal.

As an owner of a small IT company, I know firsthand the benefits that come from readily available broadband access. We embrace telecommuting, remote access, and online education. We have the ability to hire the best person for the job, regardless of their location. Today’s knowledge workers, and their employers, benefit from telecommuting arrangements that reduce traffic, increase productivity, and enhance the quality of the products and services they provide.

In a recent USA TODAY Op-ed Julius Genachowski, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, correctly identified how universal broadband can stimulate job creation and economic growth. He focused on the ability of businesses to hire work-from-home employees, using the example of at-home call centers. "Twenty percent of call center jobs in America today are at-home jobs, powered by broadband," he wrote. "The ability to work from home provides new employment options for returning veterans, people with disabilities, and parents who need flexible work schedules."

Jobs4America, a coalition of companies calling for legislation to improve job creation in the U.S., has announced that 100,000 new call center jobs will be created in the U.S. over the next two years, including "300 new jobs in Holland, Michigan." These jobs and many like them would not be possible if not for broadband Internet access. Citing a study by Novo 1, Chairman Genachowski explained that "returning a call center to the U.S. from overseas can save companies about 15%." That savings means companies have more revenue to invest in expanding business and hiring new staff.

Broadband infrastructure efforts over the past 20 years have led to entire new industries and advancements. However, the growth and availability of broadband access has been largely focused on areas with a high population density. Rural areas and remote destinations were initially cost prohibitive. Advances in land-based and wireless mobile broadband technology have improved performance and lowered the cost to provide these services to a wide area. But we are a long way from universal access to all Americans, and this must quickly change in order to be competitive in a global marketplace.

Broadband increases local job growth (from 10 Ways Broadband Helps Rural Communities)

According to PEW Research, 35% of adults in the US use smartphones, and do much of their internet access on these devices. Increasingly, these users now expect access to the internet everywhere they go. When it is not there, many will not return. When it is not there, companies will not expand to those areas.

When it comes to education for students of all ages, internet access is increasingly at the core of the curriculum. Many students have better access to the internet and technology at home than they do at school. Providing Internet access at all schools across this country should be a priority for every educator and legislature. A student population accessing online courses, reference materials from around the world, and participating in collaborative endeavors with students across the globe represent the future of education, far beyond the walls of libraries of schools past.

Linda Teeter of the Michigan Action Center succinctly lays out the benefits of Bridging the Digital Divide in Michigan. "If every household, school, and community in Michigan had high-speed wireless broadband we would be able to boost productivity, rapidly improve communication speeds, and provide our children with the type of technology and education they need to succeed in an ever-evolving job market." She also includes several recent infographics from the Internet Innovation Alliance that "show how mobile broadband can benefit many aspects of rural communities as well as health IT" and can spur job creation.

With reliable high-speed Internet, Michigan businesses anywhere will be able to compete worldwide. Without reliable and universal high-speed internet, we will be competing with other states and even countries that have made the decision to put knowledge and information into the hands of their citizens. In these troubling economic times, we cannot afford to handicap our local businesses by failing to expand this critical 21st Century Infrastructure.

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X Marks the Spot - TEDxDetroit by slaytercreative

The 3rd annual TEDx Detroit takes place next Wednesday (September 28). TEDx events are locally planned & independently organized, designed to capture the flavor of the incredible TED conferences that bring together the finest minds in the world to share ideas with the power to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

TEDx Detroit will feature some of the region's leading creators, catalysts, entrepreneurs, artists, technologists, designers, scientists, thinkers and doers sharing what they are most passionate about - positive ideas for the world from Detroit & Michigan. Some of the featured speakers include Julie Clark, a former English and art teacher from Detroit, started The Baby Einstein Company in her basement, Bobby Smith of En Garde Detroit who has used fencing to connect with thousands of kids and Rob Bliss, the 22 year old social event wunderkind Grand Rapids who has created the world's largest pillow fight, zombie walk and LipDub video.

They have closed pre-registration but will announce how to get remaining tickets tomorrow right here, and they will also soon have information about how to watch live on Wednesday! There's more TEDx coming around the state. Check out TEDx Flint (October 22) and stay tuned to Absolute Michigan for information about more!

Here's a video taking you inside a previous TEDx Detroit. You'll also want to check out Why do we produce TEDx Detroit? by Charlie Curve.

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The Project Shiphunt Students

mLive has a nice feature on some Michigan students who helped discover 2 wrecks in Lake Huron. 122 years ago, the 138-foot schooner M.F. Merrick was hit by the steel freighter Etruria, sinking both ships. The students used historical records and diving experts to identify the ships, and helped to document the vessels in 3-D for the newest exhibit at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. The article explains that:

...the crew of Project Shiphunt — which included five high school students from Saginaw — had identified two previously undiscovered wrecks in more than 300 feet of water just outside of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

"That was just powerful, to be the first human eyes to look at these since they went to the bottom," said James Delgado, director of Maritime Heritage at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and expedition leader for Project Shiphunt. "We were looking for a ship that was sunk in a collision, and we ended up finding two other ships that were sunk in a collision."

The project was a joint venture sponsored by Sony and Intel corporations that incorporated technology, oceanography, archeology and history into a hands-on curriculum that brought history to life for the Saginaw students during six days in May. The students directed the mission, charted the map in search of the steamer Choctaw, and manned the massive research vessels as they painted the floor of Lake Huron with triple-beam and side-scan sonars.

You can learn more about Project Shiphunt in a video from Sony/Intel. Definitely watch this if you can - it's a very cool video and shows how engaged the students were with the actual work of exploration. The documentary will air on the Current cable channel at 10 PM on Aug. 30th so check that out too!

To my mind, this is what education should be. Here's a 3D visualization of the ROV exploring the MF Merrick that's pretty neat as well.

3D Shipwreck - MF Merrick with ROV from Mike Postons on Vimeo.

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Speed by IreJustin

Applications are now open for the 2011 Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition. The Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition will award more than $1 million in cash winnings, plus in-kind awards of services, staffing and software to top entrepreneurial businesses and also includes a competition for college students with an idea for an innovative business.

To qualify for the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, businesses must make a commitment to locate and grow in Michigan. These companies must also be at the commercial stage of business development, past proof of concept. It's open to businesses who operate in technology-driven sectors including alternative energy, IT, advanced manufacturing, life science, medical devices and advanced transportation.

Any undergraduate or graduate student who is enrolled in at least two classes in a Michigan public or private university or college for the fall 2011 semester is eligible for the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, and student teams may also submit.

Get your applications and much more information at www.acceleratemichigan.org and check them out on Facebook. Check out last year's winners including $500,000 winner Armune BioScence.

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Painting A Picture Of Optimism by DetroitDerek Photography

Later this week (April 27-29) the 3rd annual  Future Midwest Conference kicks off in Detroit. It's the largest digital business conference in the Midwest and  seeks to accelerate business and cultural transformation by uniting community passions with emerging technologies. In 2011, they've selected Eastern Market in Detroit as the conference venue. In this interview, conference co-founder Adrian Pittman explains that:

FutureMidwest is a digital business conference that focuses on the impact of technology in five areas:

• Integrated marketing: How to integrate digital platforms into a well-rounded marketing mix
• User experience: How to create an engaging experience across a variety of digital media
• Mobile: How it's impacting information exchange and user access and how to utilize it
• Business Intelligence/Analytics: How to define metrics that matter most and apply them
• Regional growth: How the Midwest is participating in the information age

The conference features 2 full days of presentations, panels and exhibitions about technology, social media and how all of this ties into creating a new future for the Midwest. The 2011 conference debuts  Funded by Night, one-day competition to fund tech startups where 25 companies will create to will compete to win a $100,000 convertible note from two local venture capital firms Detroit Venture Partners and Ludlow Ventures.

Any video with a space cow in it has to be good, and the 2010 conference video is no exception!

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The daylong event's theme is designed  to educate, inspire and connect great minds by honoring innovators who have passion, curiosity, creativity and adaptability to change the world with revolutionary ideas. Guest speakers include Carl Ganter, director and co-founder of Circle of Blue; Ellen Gustafson, co-founder of FEED Projects; environmental activist  Peter Sinclair; Dominique Jaurola, founder of Hunome; photojournalist  Paola Gianturco;  James Gartner, television and film director; Carl Erickson, cofounder and president of Atomic Object; American conductor  Kevin Rhodes; author and Great Lakes advocate Jerry Dennis, author; educator  Yong Zhao;  and marine science educator  Teresa Carey who you can learn about in the video below!

TEDx  is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience.  TED started in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. You can click that link for a lot more information and some amazing TED Talks that take you from the deepest caves to the planet Saturn and explore cool innovations such as transforming education with video or Google's driverless car with all kinds of luminaries including Bill Gates (state budgets), Jane Goodall (what separates us from the apes) and web innovator Ze Frank.

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Vineyard by ramjetgr

Michigan Radio Morning Edition host Christina Shockley is asking those in the know What's Working in Michigan? There's no better time to take a look at things that are already happening to improve our state's economy and our lives. Here's a snapshot of a few of the voices:

Linda Jones, the Executive Director of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council on Michigan Wine: Success in a Bottle: "It combines our second and third largest industries: agriculture and tourism. Michigan is a long-standing fruit-producing state, especially on the west side of the state, but increasingly throughout Michigan we are planting wine grapes with new varieties that are being developed."

jibba jabba scribba scrabba rail jam 17 by emperley3

Scott MacInnes, the City Manager of Houghton on Turning winter in the U.P. into a tourist destination: "People around here live up here because they enjoy the weather. We do three or four special events in the downtown. We have Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival, which is a huge mid-winter festival for us up here. So we just have a lot of neat activities going on that really make the winter go by fast and make it enjoyable."

Rick Wilson, Heritage Sustainable Energy on Wind energy takes off in Michigan: "One of the things that I like to think, and that I believe, is that it's a homegrown source of power that is critical to our everyday lives. Traditionally, here in Michigan, 80 percent, I think, of our power, especially in Lower Michigan, is coming from large, somewhat archaic (not all of them, but, you know) coal-fired facilities. They may not even be located in Michigan. Some of them are located down in the Ohio River Basin and Indiana and surrounding states. So, to have, not only renewable generation here in our home state, but also just power that's generated right here in our back yard is something that's important for us as a community and as a state."

Read more stories from Michigan Radio and post what you think is working below!

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Fading to Sky by Jeff Casemier

The Grand Rapids Press reports that four of West Michigan's leading companies are launching a design hub this summer in Grand Rapids that is modeled after other successful programs in other cities:

Dubbed GRid70, the concept will bring together creative professionals from Amway, Meijer Inc., Steelcase Inc. and Wolverine World Wide Inc. at 70 Ionia Ave. SW, where they will share ideas while drawing inspiration from the urban environment.

The goal is to capitalize on the region's sometimes unheralded design expertise by mixing creative teams from different industries and, hopefully, spawning the sorts of "happy accidents" that inspire innovation, new products and different ways of thinking.

...GRid70 was born from a group of about 30 West Michigan CEOs who formed a committee, called What's Next, to develop ideas for bolstering the area's economy, reputation and its attractiveness to potential employees and entrepreneurs.

"This puts a stake in the ground that communicates the area's design strengths not only to Grand Rapids, but to the world," said Carol Coletta, who heads CEOs for Cities, a Chicago-based urban consulting firm hired by What's Next.

Read on to learn about the new Masters of Design Methods program that will be housed in the building. Also see Michigan design hub opens in Grand Rapids in Business Week, the GRid70 Facebook, a brief explanation of the concept and this video from WZZM TV-13:

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We'll lead off with video of President Barack Obama's speech at Northern Michigan University in Marquette on February 10, 2011. Thanks Cat Chat TV for the great video!

Railroads, Power Lines ... and WiFi?

02102011_motorcade3-4203 by CreateWithKim
(view her NMU Obama slideshow

The New York Times has a nice report on the President's proposal to implement high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans within five years. They also have an answer to the question of why Marquette and Northern Michigan University.

Mr. Obama chose Marquette, a city of about 21,000 on Lake Superior on Michigan's Upper Peninsula, because Northern Michigan University has worked on ways to expand wireless access for students and the surrounding areas. For more than a decade, the university has given a new laptop to every incoming student.

The university has also joined up with business to build what Mr. Obama called “a high-speed, next-generation wireless network,” and worked with nearby towns to expand the network by retrofitting their cell towers with new equipment.

Get the full text of the White House release explaining the details of the plan from NMU.

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Hybrid by RichardDemingPhotography

West Michigan Strategic Alliance welcomes electric vehicles with charging stations in Crain's Michigan Business says that Grand Rapids, Holland, Muskegon and other West Michigan communities are laying the groundwork to support electric & plug-in hybrid cars:

By next spring, there may be as many as 75 public charging stations located in the parking lots of businesses, colleges, hospitals and other sites scattered throughout West Michigan, all paid for by federal stimulus funds.

Never mind that there are no mass-produced electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles yet on the market. They are coming soon, and West Michigan officials said they want to make the region friendly to them.

"Rather than sit back and wait, we decided to be proactive about it," said Greg Northrup, president of the West Michigan Strategic Alliance. "It's another one of those issues in which we try to see where things are going and be a part of it."

There's more information about the effort along with how buyers of these vehicles can get free home charging stations at Crain's Michigan and from the West Michigan Strategic Alliance. You can also learn about free charging stations for southern Michigan communities at ChargePoint America. Also check out this video from FOX-17 that explains how the backers of the program hope to drive demand for Michigan produced vehicles.

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by Liz Pacheco

Michigan may be one important step closer to offshore wind energy by the end of the year.

In early November, state Rep. Dan Scripps, D-Leland introduced a bill to regulate wind farms in Michigan's Great Lakes waters. The legislation proposes that the state fully oversee offshore wind projects—from initial proposals from developers, through approval and construction.

Proponents say it ensures that Michigan controls who, where and how offshore wind projects are developed.

“If we can put together and have enacted a comprehensive framework, we'll be first in the Great Lakes region,” said Scripps. “There is a huge advantage in doing this for support for onshore job potential. If we don't, and someone else beats us, we'll have lost the opportunity from an investment and jobs standpoint.”

Both Republican and Democratic representatives support the bill. Some advocates are hopeful it can pass in the lame duck session before the new governor and many new legislators take office in January.

“The governor wants to try to get this done to have on her desk to sign it,” Scripps said. “A lot of the pieces are in place, a lot of the questions answered…I know there's going to be a big push.”

Offshore wind faces other development hurdles

It could make Michigan the first state with comprehensive offshore wind development legislation. But even if it passed, offshore wind farms likely are far in Michigan's future.

Before wind towers can be built right in the Great Lakes, “a lot has to be done to get the cost for offshore wind down; a lot of leasing and permitting has to be in place,” said John Sarver, co-chair of the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative. Speaking theoretically, “let's assume we will have legislation in place by the end of the year. There will be years of process, studies and evaluation before construction will start.”

These five Wind Resource Areas are at least 6 miles off shore
away from shipping lanes and sensative habitat and are
covered in 148 feet of water or less.
Photo: Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council

The bill is based on the policy recommendations made in an Oct. 1 report by the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council, an advisory board created by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm in September 2009 to explore the power source.

Michigan owns 40 percent of the water surface —more than any other state in the region. This makes the Great Lakes a huge untapped resource for the state.

Michigan State University Land Policy Institute [in a 2009 study] identified 322,000 megawatts of potential, Sarver said.

One megawatt is enough electricity for 225 to 300 homes, giving the Great Lakes the potential to provide energy to millions of Michigan homes.

The council's report presented a more realistic outlook and recommended the most favorable areas for Michigan offshore wind projects.

“Our original charge was to find the most favorable and the least favorable [locations],” said Michael Klepinger, the council's staff director. “That language was inserted there on purpose, so we wouldn't stand around arguing about all the stuff in the middle.”

Strong winds, sensitive habitats, shipping channels help define development sites

Five areas were identified as priority places for offshore wind. All are at least six miles offshore and avoid waters not fit for wind towers, like shipping lanes and sensitive fish and wildlife habitats.

The report also polled community support for offshore wind and recommended legislation for leasing and permitting lake bottoms to offshore wind developers.    

“The government made it clear to the council that they were to look at the statewide public need,” said Klepinger, “not just the needs of the people sitting on the beach or the needs of people sitting in high rises in Detroit.”

More than 575 residents attended the five public meetings held all over the state; 480 participated in the surveys. Nearly two-thirds of these participants showed support for commercial offshore wind farms with the understanding they would help meet the state's renewable energy portfolio. That's a law requiring that 10 percent of Michigan's electricity must come from renewable energy by 2015.

Those opposed to offshore wind worry about impacts on tourism, habitats, property values and the use of the lakes for private gain. Problems such as noise,were also concerns.

Other states also covet Great Lakes wind potential

Michigan isn't the only Great Lakes state working to develop offshore wind projects.

In New York, the state power authority has created a timeline for wind tower construction starting in 2013. Power would be produced in 2015-2016. Unlike Michigan, New York won't need to pass legislation to facilitate their projects, although they will still need to work with federal regulators such as the Army Corps of Engineers.

Click through to Great Lakes Echo for a poll, reader comments and other stories.

In Illinois, a grassroots organization has sparked the discussion on offshore wind energy. Earlier this month a task force under the nonprofit group Citizens for A Greener Evanston received permission from the city council to review offshore wind projects for Lake Michigan, including two submitted proposals.

Despite already receiving proposals, “we know we're not going to be the first” in offshore wind power from the Great Lakes, said Kevin Glynn, a member of the Renewable Energy Resources Task Force with Greener Evanston.

However, not being first gives Evanston the opportunity to learn from its neighbors.   “We're trying to study what's happening in the other states and…what's been going through the legislative,” said Glynn. “We told [the city council] to copy what Ohio and Michigan are doing” in terms of legislation.

Cooperation among states has been an important part of offshore wind development in the Great Lakes.   The Great Lakes Wind Collaborative was established to facilitate discussion and Sarver said that states and provinces have been talking for years, both about offshore and onshore possibilities.

While offshore wind energy is still years in the future, those involved in the projects are excited about its potential. “Everyone benefits,” said Sarver. “There's an advantage getting away from heavy dependence on coal power and diverse resource base.”

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Lansing, Michigan, USA by Mario.Q

Next American City partnered with IBM and its SmarterCities initiative to encourage citizens across the nation to share how their cities are addressing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The prize for the city with the most posts to the SmarterCities Scan was a profile on their website, and Lansing, Michigan, blew the competition away. Their profile of Lansing by Ivy Hughes is a great read and shows why Lansing just might be Michigan's most overlooked success story.

For years, various groups have been trying to change the Greater Lansing Region's image as another Rustbelt city, but these efforts have really taken off in the last few years. Kiplinger recently ranked Lansing as one of the “10 Great Cities for Young Adults”; several Greater Lansing Region businesses have made Inc. magazine's 5,000 fastest-growing companies; Michigan State University (MSU) was chosen as the home base for a the $500 million Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) and is ranked only second to MIT in nuclear physics; and, in 2009, MSU made Entrepreneur magazine's list of “Top Colleges for Business.”

penthouse by TerryJohnston

The author lists some of the factors that make Lansing worthy of this honor including Development, Culture, Ideas, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, saying:

Changing a city best suited for cars into a walkable, bikeable community is, at the very least, a challenge but several organizations are working to increase the number of bike lanes, walkways and shared use paths. The region's bus system, CATA, is one of most effective transportation systems among communities similar in size to the Greater Lansing Region and is a major player in the effort to shift the ratio of cars to people on the street. Discussions regarding the incorporation of a light rail system into the region's long-term transportation plan have just begun.

Sustainability is the driving force behind these transportation efforts and is the catalyst for the region's vast community garden network and the inspiration for the city's first urban garden — Urbandale farm. Many neighborhood organizations are working to increase the visibility and viability of sustainable eating in the region.

They close with:

...a big thank you to the groups continuing to make the Greater Lansing Region a place we all want to be. They are: #lovelansing, Capital Area Michigan Works!, Accelerate Lansing, YSG Lansing, Capital Gains Media, Keep Learning, LEAP, Grand River Connection, Mid-Michigan Tweet Ups, Prima Civitas, Impression 5, City of East Lansing, NOISE, MSU Catalyst, Walk and Bike Lansing; Greater Lansing Business Monthly; Help Make Mid-Michigan Walk and Bike Friendly!; Lansing Walking & Bicycling Task Force; Arts Council; Lansing Happy Hour Club; and a plethora of hardworking neighborhood associations.

Read more at Next American City and also check out the Lansing tag at Smarter Cities for some of the Capital City's many assets! There are videos there highlighting all kinds of things about the Greater Lansing area such as the many festivals which draw over 1/2 million people a year to the region and this one from Greater Lansing. While it's definitely idealized, it shows the amazing range of offerings the region holds.

Greater Lansing from Leap, Inc. on Vimeo.

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Skyline: Lansing, Michigan, USA by Mario.Q

Spotted in the Lansing State Journal today, Kiplinger magazine Lansing has been identified as one of 10 great cities for young adults. Ranking right along side the notable locations of Austin, TX, Charlotte, N.C., Chicago, IL, Kansas City, MO, New York, NY, Portland, OR, Salt Lake City, UT and Washington, D.C.. The criteria used to identify the cities were 6 key questions.

1. Will I find good work there?
2. Who lives there?
3. What colleges and universities does the city offer?
4. How much is rent?
5. How is the commute?
6. Will I have fun there?

From LSJ.com:

The "Love Lansing" contingent is growing, with a well-known financial group touting the Michigan city as one of the best places for young people.

Lansing has been named one of "10 great cities for young adults" by financial news organization Kiplinger.

They promote their town on Twitter with the keyword "#LoveLansing," talk about it during networking events and defend their decision to live here to their peers in other cities.

And now, they have something to back it up.

Kiplinger's made note of Lansing's cheap rent well below the national average, a respectable bar and club scene, high-paying job opportunities in bio and Internet technologies and an average commute of only 20 minutes.

Michigan's capital is a little-known hotbed for young professionals," Kiplinger said. "Granted, this Great Lakes community can't quite compare to the larger cities on our list in terms of job prospects or things to do. But it has a relatively low cost of living. And its youthful population, downtown renewal projects, and emerging technology sector make Lansing a stand-out in mid-sized cities.

Read the entire article here.

The Grand Rapids Press at mlive.com also has an article on the ranking: Is Lansing the coolest city for young people in Michigan? Kiplinger says so

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Connect Michigan has announced that 95.41% of Michigan households have access to the minimum threshold for broadband at 768Kbps downstream. Just under 175 thousand Michigan households remain unserved other than by mobile wireless or satellite service. The image to the right shows the availability of fixed wireless, one of many options including cable, DSL, fiber & mobile service that you can explore through the Interactive Michigan Broadband Map. They plan to also offer data on internet & broadband adoption as well as computer ownership.

Connect Michigan's news release states that the maps were created through a partnership between the Michigan Public Service Commission and the national nonprofit Connected Nation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act requires the Commerce Department to create a searchable national broadband map and make it publicly available by Feb. 17, 2011. In addition to offering a map of current connectivity:

Connected Nation's GIS team will continuously refine the maps as more data is gathered - relying upon citizen feedback as part of the validation process. Residents, businesses, and any interested party with knowledge of the state broadband landscape are asked to go to Connect Michigan's website to provide input that will be used to verify and ensure the highest level of accuracy for the broadband maps.

On Connectmi.org, those who do not currently have broadband access can add their name and address to a secure database of households that would like to subscribe if given the opportunity. The collected information supports the creation of the broadband inventory map that will assist in expanding broadband delivery to residents across the state.

There are also detailed county maps showing broadband inventory and the density of households unserved by a broadband provider along with a a statewide map displaying rural and non-rural areas eligible for stimulus funding, a great tool for applicants submitting for broadband stimulus grants and loans.

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Oldsmobile by NewCityOne

The Detroit Free Press reports that in a speech yesterday in Youngstown, Ohio, President Barack Obama announced that:

Leftover and abandoned factories from the remnants of General Motors' past could be used to lure new builders of energy-efficient technology to Michigan under the $836-million plan revealed Tuesday by the Obama administration.

The trust fund, which has to be approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York, will see Michigan get $161 million for its old GM sites, such as Buick City in Flint, the Pontiac Centerbridge campus and the site of the former Lansing Oldsmobile plant.

...The trust would use no new government money. Motors Liquidation was given $1.2 billion for wind-down costs by the U.S. Treasury as part of GM's bankruptcy in 2009, along with 10% of new GM's equity and warrants for an additional 15% should claims against it total more than $35 billion.

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Inovateus Solar, Chart House Energy and Torresen Marine are partnering on a $740,000 solar power development atop the 28,000 square foot sailboat storage facility at Torreson Marine in Muskegon. Their press release says that at 150kW, Torreson Solar will be the largest solar power project to date in the state of Michigan.   The system will offset the power of the Torreson Marine facility by 30%   and produce the equivalent energy it takes to power 20 homes in the Muskegon area.

A WMMT story notes that:

...even though Michigan has a reputation for being cloudy and overcast, with 65 percent of days being sunny on average, it's prime real estate.

“Actually, believe it or not, this location provides more solar energy than Miami,” said Robert Rafson of Chart House Energy. “It is actually quite a bit sunnier and less cloudy here during the summer.”

“Michigan has a lot of great incentives right now,” said (Kathleen) Torresen, “and they have some goals on the percentage of power they'd like to be in place, not coming from current sources.”

SolarPowerRocks.com's page on Michigan solar echoes that, stating that Detroit gets an average of 4.2 hours of sun a day - plenty for solar power, and that solar panels produce more energy when it's cold. Add to that Michigan's new renewable energy standard, and it's likely that this facility in Muskegon won't be Michigan's largest for long.

You can follow the construction of the solar array on the Torreson Marine webcam and become a fan of Torresen Solar on Facebook.

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Lillgrund by axelivarsson

Early in February, Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center and the University of Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute received $1.34 million in state grants to explore the feasibility of offshore wind turbines on Lake Michigan.

Although this study is not yet even off the ground, Scandia Wind and Havgul Clean Energy have already jumped beyond feasibility to propose a massive offshore wind farm. Green Beat notes that Great Lakes wind farms are failing the NIMBY test. The Michigan Policy Network notes that in a rare display of timeliness, a pair of bills are attempting to address industrial wind power in the Great Lakes:

In Michigan, one of our most promising options for renewable energy is electricity generating wind turbines. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Michigan has the potential for 16,560 Megawatts of wind energy, making us the biggest stakeholder in wind energy east of the Mississippi River. Despite that fact, we lag far behind many other eastern states in actual installed capacity. Why is that? Wind energy will last as long as the earth's atmosphere is in place, emits no greenhouse gases, and the average wind turbine generates enough electricity to 'pay back' its energy cost of production and transportation in a few months. What's not to like?

Well, wind energy happens to be generated with turbines on top of very tall towers, with rotor diameters often measuring 100 meters across. These turbines stick out in a natural landscape like a sore thumb, and create considerable noise. They have also been proven to kill birds and bats which fly into the rapidly spinning rotors...

Policy makers are now scrambling to lay down guidelines for how this rapidly expanding industry will be regulated. Senate bill 1067 compels the Michigan public service commission to create rules and procedures for the permitting, site selection, and fee regulation of offshore wind farms. A key piece of this legislation is ‘the preservation of the public trust in lands and waters of the Great Lakes', which means that the needs and wants of wind energy developers must not infringe on the needs and wants of the rest of the Lake's stakeholders. That includes the tourism industry and the cottage owners who bought their property with an unobstructed view of Lake Michigan in mind. House bill 5761 amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to provide for a public notice and comment/review process before any aspect of wind farm infrastructure can be developed. In this way, the public has a venue in which to voice their concerns with any proposed wind farm development.

mLive has a lot more about the controversy and legislation. Check it out and let us know what you think about this in the comments. One thing is certain: We'll be hearing a whole lot about wind power in the Great Lakes in 2010.

The photos above are from the Lillgrund Wind Farm, the third largest wind farm in the world which generates .33 Terawatts per year. Have a look at axelivarsson's slideshow, and consider that the wind farm proposed one off Ludington would be almost 5 times that size.

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Enrico Fermi 2 by daryl.larkin

Michigan Solar Solutions says that Michigan is Poised for 'Solar Explosion' in 2010:

According to company President Mark Hagerty, the year is shaping up to be "a perfect storm for solar" in the state.

"Many people think that solar won't work in Michigan because it's too cold and it doesn't get as much sun as other places, but that's misconstrued," Hagerty said. "Michigan has an average of 4.2 hours of peak sunlight per day each year. Florida, the 'Sunshine State' only has about five hours. Solar panels are less efficient the hotter they get and actually produce more power when it gets cooler. While the Southwest may get more hours of sun, the panels produce less voltage per peak hour because of the heat." He added that in 2008, his company's solar panels produced 1.2 times the rated output at 10 degrees below zero.

One reason Hagerty says Michigan is the place for solar power in 2010: rising electricity prices and increasing state and federal incentives mean that renewable energy has never been cheaper.

Now you have to figure that a company called Michigan Solar Solutions is going to be pretty bullish on solar energy, but we did a little checking and found that Michigan is a lot better than you might think for sun power:

• Solar Power Rocks lists Michigan State Solar Power Rebates, Tax Credits, and Incentives (there's a lot of them)
• The Michigan Dept of Labor & Economic Growth's Wind & Solar pages are packed with info including the Michigan Renewable Energy Program and this Solar Power Tour of Michigan (pdf)
• Michigan Advantage lists some success stories and talks about Solar Incentives for businesses
• If you're looking for someone to help you explore solar at your home or business, try the Solar Energy Businesses in Michigan (almost 60 listed).
• ...and every June there's the Michigan Energy Fair.

I'll bet there's a lot more solar energy info for Michigan out there - share it in the comments!

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The Day The Earth Will Stand Still
by Mykl Roventine

10 years ago I was - like many other information industry professionals - nervously counting down to Y2K. The Year 2000 Problem / Y2K entry at Wikipedia has a good overview of the issue. While it seems looking back as if the problem was overblown, this retrospective on the legacy of Y2K from American Radio quotes David Eddy (the guy who coined Y2K) as saying that while most civilians believe that the whole Y2K thing was a hoax, the real reason nothing bad happened was that so many people put so much hard work into it. John Koskinen, President Clinton's czar in charge of overseeing Y2K fixes, echoed that:

"The only way to be a hero," says Koskinen, "would be for half the world to stop and then somehow get it started again which was not one of our goals. Like a lot of things in government, if it works well nobody cares much."

Koskinen points to evidence that the fix was needed. Some computers that didn't get fixed stopped working on New Year's Day. He says some of those glitches would normally have been big news, but since people were expecting the end of the world, they didn't seem like that big a deal. Koskinen was in the Y2K nerve center in Washington, D.C. that night, monitoring systems all over the world. He says the public doesn't realize how many things went wrong.

Koskinen describes the scene as he saw it unfurl. "The low level wind shear detectors at every major airport go out at 7:00 on Friday night, the defense intelligence satellite system goes down, the French intelligence satellite goes down, the Japanese lose the ability to monitor a couple of their nuclear power plants, and come Monday morning, there are thousands of businesses that when you buy something with your credit card charge you every day of the week"

But in the end, most major business and government computers did get fixed. In fact, so few things went wrong that after Y2K, some businesspeople complained that the money they spent was wasted. But Business Week chief economist Michael Mandel disagrees. He says Y2K forced business to make upgrades that they're still using. "If you look at the Y2K," says Mandel, "you can sort of say, 'Maybe we didn't have to be so wired up about it.' But the fact is, it may have been the right thing to do from a social and economic point of view."

You can also read Y2K COMPUTER BUG -- THE YAWN OF A NEW MILLENNIUM by Ben Best for more about the techno-apocalypse that wasn't.

Looking back, I wish that I could have had some of the many hours of meetings with clients and local government officials back, but in the end I pretty much agree that Y2K did a lot of good by pointing out to people how dependent we are on those low-level computer systems. Happy Y2K + 10 and here's a little video about what didn't happen:

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Windmill by reddeviltj

University of Michigan student Aubrey Ann Parker is in Copenhagen and blogging for the Detroit Free Press about her experiences and observations at the 15th Conference of the Parties United Nations Climate Change Convention. Wherever you come down in the climate debate, I think it's instructive to hear about the issues and actions that are being discussed. In Copenhagen's offshore wind industry shows global potential she asks a very simple question that's been on my mind for a few years:

Why aren't we using our technical expertise and warehouses full of machinery equipment to help optimize wind turbines that could be used throughout the world? This morning I attended a three-hour tour to Middelgrunden Wind Farm, just off the coast of Copenhagen. Luckily this tour didn't turn out like Gilligan's, because the temperature was below freezing.

The tour highlighted several speakers from the wind energy industry, all of which mentioned the need for better turbine design so that wind energy can become more affordable for consumers. They stressed the importance of new technology to overcome the learning curve in an industry that is still fairly young (only 30 years old for onshore turbines, and less than 10 years for offshore). But the potential is there, and estimates say the demand is growing fast.

Why not indeed? That Michigan hasn't trained its manufacturing might upon  this exploding global market seems to me indicative of a profound lack of vision on the part of our business and political leaders.

You can read more from Aubrey and other UM students on the Michigan at Cop15 blog.

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Wind farm in Ubly Michigan by Ray Dumas

The 2nd annual Conference on Michigan's Future will be held Friday November 13 through Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Crystal Mountain Resort near Traverse City.

The conference will explores visions of a sustainable future for Michigan, from the critical challenges facing our economy to strategies for developing a stable, enduring economic, energy and environmental future. It features forty speakers providing high-powered, cutting-edge presentations including Robert Costanza, Albert Bates, Thomas Greco, Richard Douthwaite, Patrick Moore, Harvey Wasserman, Richard Gilbert, Soji Adelaja, Joe Welch, and Dan Scripps.

Last year Absolute Michigan talked with Crystal Mountain GM Jim MacInnes about the last year's conference and you can watch it right here:

Photo Credit

The photos in the video are from the Absolute Michigan pool on Flickr. If you mouse over them you can see title and photographer's name and you can click to see more great work from them.

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Pumpkin Patch by Larry the Biker

In his essay Threatening Agriculture, Michigan Radio's Jack Lessenberry says that it looks as if Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm will veto funding for agricultural extension programs after witholding the October payment for extension. He quotes dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University Jeffrey Armstrong as saying this would be devastating to Michigan's second largest industry in a variety of ways including the loss of millions more in federal matching funds.

“The Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station system and MSU extension are providing the research, development, and education for Michigan's emerging green economy,” Armstrong said.

If that funding is eliminated, or even if it is withheld, he says it would “destroy our ability to build the one economic sector in which Michigan has an advantage,” he says.

What that would mean is that MSU would have to shut down its 83 extension offices -- one per county - plus 15 agricultural and biological research stations and some other programs.

Jack notes that we're not just talking 4H here - we're talking after school programs in inner cities and a wide range of health and education issues that touch all aspects of our lives in Michigan.

I'll switch to italics to editorialize: This is about the most senseless thing I've ever heard of. Michigan is defined by what we grow and right now it seems like we're growing stupidity.

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167|365 ride the wind by nicole st. john

The Huron Daily Tribune noted last week in Final report: Wind potential high that the final report issued Thursday by the Michigan Wind Energy Resource Zone Board (view PDF) identified key regions for wind energy generation and a potential annual energy output of an eye-popping 17,720,522 megawatts! The report found that major region in Michigan for wind power generation is:

... the Thumb Region — which includes Huron County and portions of Bay, Saginaw, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties — has the potential of having a minimum of 1,578 and maximum of 2,824 turbines. The wind board derived this figure with the assumption there were no turbines placed within the boundaries of the villages and cities, as well as three townships.

In addition to the Thumb Region (Region 4), other areas included as having the highest level of wind energy harvest potential in the wind board's final report include portions of Allegan County (Region 1), portions of Antrim and Charlevoix counties (Region 2), and portions of Benzie, Leelanau and Manistee counties (Region 3).

Yesterday, in GVSU Lake Michigan wind energy test project gets $1.4 million federal grant, the Grand Haven Tribune reported that:

Grand Valley State University's efforts to launch a wind turbine testing project on Lake Michigan will receive a $1.4 million federal grant.

The school's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), based in Muskegon, is planning to put a turbine on a floating platform to test how it works on the Great Lakes. Researchers hope to have the platform installed by fall 2010.

MAREC notes that the wind potential of Lake Michigan is in the range of 4 to 6 wind class with 7 being the highest possible. A tenth of the wind power potential of Lake Michigan alone is equivalent to some 20 nuclear power plants and when you look at that and at the state's overall potential for wind power, it seems to make a ton of sense for Michigan to support wind energy development as aggressively as we once pushed the auto industry.

Speaking of industry & wind, check out this video of Dr. Soji Adelaja from the Michigan Land Policy Institute (the organization that produced the map to the right) talking about wind energy generation at industrial brownfield sites:

See absolutemichigan.com/wind for much more about wind power, windmills and wind energy generation in Michigan.

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Chevy Volt by wizardkitten

Autotopia from WIRED reports that GM is claiming that the forthcoming Chevy Volt will get 230 MPG.

That's more than four times higher than the Toyota Prius, the current EPA fuel-efficiency champ.

The figure is based on development testing using methodology drafted by the Environmental Protection Agency for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Company CEO Fritz Henderson offered no details on how GM arrived at that figure, but he predicted the Volt will be the first mass-produced vehicle to top 100 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Coupled with the car's expected electric-only range of 40 miles, Henderson said the Volt could all but free consumers from petroleum. According to the Department of Transportation, nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles each day.

“From the data we've seen, many Chevy Volt drivers may be able to drive in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to use any gas,” Henderson said. “EPA labels are a yardstick for customers to compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles. So, a vehicle like the Volt that achieves a composite triple-digit fuel economy is a game-changer.”

There's some interesting discussion about whether or not that's possible after the article and also at Slashdot, where they note that this is what's behind the cryptic "230" ad campaign that pointed to today as the date when everyone (anyone?) who has been wondering about this would finally be able to sleep at night and know what is 230? (also has a link to the Chevy Volt Facebook if you want to befriend this potentially game-changing car.

If you have other questions, maybe Chevy Volt Co-Creator Jon Lauckner can answer them in this video below.

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UK Solar Power Experiment by david.nikonvscanon

The Michigan Energy Fair returns to the Manistee County Fairgrounds in Onekama June 26-28, 2009. This year is the 4th annual and the weekend offers a chance learn all about how alternative energy can and is working in Michigan.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle reports:

This marks the fourth annual event and as many as 8,000 visitors are expected between June 26 and 28.

Keynote speaker will be Larry Flowers from the U.S. Department of Energy and special tours are planned, including the first Michigan-made wind system in Manistee County and a LEED-certified home tour in Kingsley. The event will conclude with wine tasting at the Douglas Valley Farm, vineyards and organic winery and cheese factory.

Lighthouse Colors by oliviaburger08

It's fitting that the Energy Fair is held in Manistee County as it's been identified as one of the best locations for wind energy in Michigan:

The Wind Energy Resource Zone Board, created by the Legislature in an energy package passed last year, has identified the four that would be best for wind farm development. (see wind maps)

The areas are Allegan County; portions of Benzie, Leelanau and Manistee counties; portions of Antrim and Charlevoix counties, and parts of the Thumb counties of Huron, Sanilac, Tuscola, Bay and Saginaw.

Michigan Energy Fair Links

Recap of the 2008 Michigan Energy Fair

Get lodging, dining and visitor information for Manistee and Onekama from Absolute Michigan

Recap of the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair

Recap of the 2006 Michigan Energy Fair

The Michigan land Use Institute reports on the 2007 Michigan Energy Fair (with video) and also on the 2006 Michigan Energy Fair.

Check Absolute Michigan keyword energy for a gigawatt more related links and articles.

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Registrants can save at least $25 by signing up today for the $110 early registration fee. The registration fee increases to $135 from April 1-May 4. Registration on the day of the event, if still available, will be $185. A limited number of student registrations are still available for only $35 for college and high school students as well.

The conference seeks to encourage workforce development and economic growth, showcase Michigan as a state that is embracing green economy and to provide a networking platform to build relationships and public/private partnerships in Michigan's green sectors. The agenda includes a panel discussion with Apollo Alliance Director Kate Gordon and numerous breakout session that explore what people all over Michigan are doing today and where we might go. The keynote speaker appears to have been a fortuitous choice:

“One reason we decided to extend the deadline is the fact we received exciting news this week that our keynote speaker, Van Jones, was tapped by the Obama administration as a Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation,” said DELEG Director Stanley Pruss. “We know that people are excited more than ever about hearing how Michiganders of all socio-economic backgrounds can be a part of the new green economy.”

Jones believes it's time to create the Clean Energy Corps - a modern version of FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps. He will be working on the President's agenda of creating 21st century jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources and will also help to shape and advance the Administration's energy and climate initiatives with a specific interest in improvements and opportunities for vulnerable communities.

Looks like an interesting conference for anyone who is seeking to get involved in the growing "green wave" that is building in Michigan and across the country - register today!

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windmill (sepia) by idiot_girl

In Training Turbine Installers: A Michigan First, the blog Got2BeGreen tipped us off to:

A school in southwest Michigan called Kalamazoo Valley Community College is launching a first-of-its-kind program to train people to install wind turbines. If you want to get one of those green jobs that Van Jones and the others keep talking about, you might want to sign up.

...the KVCC Wind Turbine Technician Academy program is set to begin in October. It will run for 26 weeks, be based on a European certification standard and train people in the installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of commercial-scale turbines, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.

From the Gazette's article:

There is a similar program to it in Alberta, Canada, but when this program launches in October through KVCC's Michigan Technical Education Center, it will be the only one like it in the United States, said Jim DeHaven, vice president for economic and business development for KVCC.

"People are going to be coming from all over the country to get into this class because the waiting list is so long in Alberta," DeHaven said.

"It's going to put us on the national and international map," he said.

The article also notes that KVCC will be offering a program starting this summer to teach people to service commercial-grade wind turbines and Got2BeGreen called out a similar program that Delta College in Bay County is working on.

The 49ers were after gold but it looks like the 09ers will be after wind!

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