Going green, one door at a time
Getting the word about renewable energyBy KURT HAUGLIE, DMG Writer
HANCOCK - Getting the United States to switch over to low- or non-polluting energy sources will probably take many years, and some people and organizations are working to assure that happens sooner than later.
Environment Michigan, based in Ann Arbor, is working with the national nonprofit Fund for the Public Interest research organization to conduct a public information campaign about alternative energy. Shelley Vinyard, environmental associate for both groups, said organization representatives will be in Hancock and Houghton during June to explain what they're doing.
"We're working to repower America with 100 percent clean energy," Vinyard said.
There will be five to 10 workers going door to door for one to two weeks in June to explain the organization's intent, Vinyard said, and hopefully, to get people to join Environment Michigan.
"We go to neighborhoods to talk to as many people as possible," she said. "We have designated neighborhoods each person goes to each night."
Vinyard said there will be similar efforts all over the state, but Houghton and Hancock were chosen because they are in Rep. Bart Stupak's 1st Congressional District. Stupak is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and he helped pass out of committee a bill called the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
"It's a really big bill that will cut global warming pollution," Vinyard said.
If passed by the full House and then the Senate, Vinyard said the bill, which should be voted on in the House no later than July 4, would also provide millions of jobs manufacturing such things as wind turbines and solar collector panels.
"Hopefully, we'll see a lot of those jobs come to Michigan," she said.
Vinyard said it's hoped the effort by Fund for the Public Interest canvassers locally will encourage people to become involved with the campaign to switch to renewable energy sources.
"The reason we do this work is because becoming a part of an organization like Environment Michigan is a great way to get involved," she said.
For more information about the door-to-door campaign or Environment Michigan, go online to environmentmichigan.org.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
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Rocko1
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05-27-09 4:03 PM
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We're on the same page shovel. What truly makes me mad is that the technology for clean diesel is in Europe but it gets stopped at the U.S. front door every time it rings the door bell. VW has a car getting over 60mpg and so does Ford accross the pond but it get's axed in Detroit for the U.S. consumer. They say the U.S. consumer won't buy it, hogwash! I know some of the problems are with gulf crude oil and how's it's refined in the U.S. but we need to correct this problem and get these clean diesel vehicles on our showroom floor now. I also think we need to re-visit updating rail transportation. If we didn't "need it today" whe could have it tomorrow by rail and get rid of some of these 18 wheelers on the road. Again, heaven forbid the consumer wait a day or the retailer keep a little more inventory. JIT means burning oil at a fast pace.
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lostmyshovel
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05-27-09 3:19 PM
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Rocko1, maybe you misunderstood -- I'm not saying oil is unlimited nor is oil the answer. I'm just saying that nuclear power is one answer but we'll need a lot more to fill the gap left by oil, because pound for pound you'd be hard pressed to find a fuel that contains the energy potential of oil. We've been spoiled by this great energy resource that we're abusing and we're going to have to work our tails off to maintain our current standard of living once oil dries up.
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Rocko1
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05-27-09 2:45 PM
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Shovel, I forgot.....oil reserves are unlimited? And even if oil is the answer when are we going to start building some oil refineries in this country so we can meet demand? This whole issue boils down to the U.S. consumer and consumption. We are GREEDY, SELFISH energy consuming leaches.
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Rocko1
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05-27-09 2:36 PM
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Mort, tell ya what, I'll volunteer my backyard. Nuclear power plants are safer than any other form of power on the face of this planet. They are cleaner, safer and pollute much less than coal. I'd almost rather deal with radiation instead of sulfuric gas! Radiation is always a risk yes, however the fact is that radiation is all around us! In our workplace, in our homes (especially in the Midwest) in the form of radon, Dr's offices, hospitals and several other places. The odds are better that North Korea lobs a nuke into our mainland before we ever need to worry about problems with power plants. Yes security is an issue, however Europe has been doing it for years without any problem. There is a risk in everything we do but if we truly want to go green, nuclear power is the best option. The Exxon Veldez did more environmental damage to Alaska's ecosystem than both bombs we dropped(note: I don't agree with nuke bombs!) and Chernobyl combined. Yes there is a risk but a risk worth taking
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lostmyshovel
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05-27-09 2:25 PM
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Nuclear power is great and all but in order to ramp it up to provide the level of energy we use via oil we'd have to basically blanket our country with power plants, not to mention the fact that supplies of necessary uranium would quickly disappear. Look it up. There is no one single solution to replace the marvelous energy potential in oil. It will take a huge, coordinated effort of different methods. The good news is that there will be jobs galore if we do it right.
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Morticia
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05-27-09 1:48 PM
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I'm not opposed to nuclear power on a grand scale, but where will you put these plants? No one I know would want to live with 100 miles of one of these things.
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Rocko1
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05-27-09 12:41 PM
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YooperQuincy hit the nail on the head. We need nuclear power and we need it now. Clean energy and nuclear are used in the same sentence in Europe and they should be here too. We have nuclear powered NAVY ships, dozens parked in ports all over our country but when somebody wants to park a nuke plant on land the tree huggers pipe up. Windmills are good but only a hobby compared to our demand for nuclear power.
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YooperQuincy
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05-27-09 11:51 AM
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No ifs, ands, and buts, if these people are REALLY serious about cutting CO2 emissions, they would be funding the immediate construction of 50 nuclear power plants across the US. If the French can get 80% of their electrical power from nuclear plants, why in the world can't we? But I would wager there is nary a dime for nuclear power in this bill. Pardon the pun, but without nuclear power, these people simply tilting at windmills.
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snowbound
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05-27-09 11:51 AM
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I'm all for going green just for the pleasure of seeing the oil industry crash and burn. OPEC just announced that the world economy has strengthened enough to support $75-$80 oil, and sure enough prices just increased to a 6-month high of around $63. You know what that means at the pump. Never mind the fact that unemployment keeps spiraling out of control, in Saudi Arabia's mind we can afford $3 or $4 a gallon. I say use some of that bailout money instead to research hydrogen fuel, wind energy, etc. Let Saudi Arabia drink its $80 oil.
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