Benzie County Spring, Michigan

Google has launched a new tool that lets cyclists look up trails through its Google Maps application. Traverse City has been included in the first 150 cities to be added to the feature.

From the Chicago Tribune:

"Hard-core and recreational cyclists will be able to use the Web-based technology to plan trips or explore biking trails and routes in Chicago and 149 other U.S. cities, Google officials said.

"Several online bike-trip sites already exist. But bicycling advocates hope Google's entrance in the market benefits not only individual riders but Chicago's transit system as a whole. One goal is to make it easier for non- or infrequent cyclists to access the service, thereby promoting more bicycling.

"The Web address for the service is maps.google.com/biking."

For the full article, click here.

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Photo: Spring Leaf, Benzie County, by jimflix.

Platte River, Benzie County

Division Street is a major transportation corridor of Traverse City with over 20,000 vehicles driving through each day. It is a corridor that most people in the region (Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Leelanau, and Wexford counties) will travel heading north or south.

The Record-Eagle is reporting that city officials are seeking to make the Division Street drive a more pleasant experience.

"City officials aim to transform Division Street and its 20,000-plus vehicles per day bustle into a calmer, more walkable thoroughfare, and they plan to get the ball rolling now.

"A reconstruction project may have to be put before voters; if so, the city hopes to place the measure on the August ballot.

"The public will have a chance next week to share thoughts on proposed reconstruction. The city contracted with local engineering firm URS to develop a series of conceptual redesign plans, and they'll be presented during a March 17 open house."

To read the full article on this transportation issue, click here.

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Photo: Nature's Own In-Log Garden in the Platte River by jimflix.

Sunset at Point Betsie, Benzie County

On March 24, Jim Ridgway, of Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. and David Flowers, of Natural Water Solutions, LLC., will be in Leelanau County to talk about decentralized water and wastewater treatment.

From the Leelanau County website:

"Two (2) national experts will share their experiences on low cost, small scale decentralized water & wastewater treatment opportunities. They will be the first to say "no single system will work on every site". They can tell you how others have addressed the challenges of getting high quality effluent out of small scale, low maintenance systems - systems you can learn to live with.

"PUMPERS/HAULERS: The Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality has approved Two (2) Continuing Septage Education Credit Hours (2 CSEs) for attending either of these sessions. Local septage haulers and pumper are required to have CSEs.

"About the Presenters: Mr. Jim Ridgway, Vice President and Regional Manager for Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. M.S.E., Civil Engineering - University of Michigan; B.S.E., Environmental Science-Engineering -University of Michigan; B.S., Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences-University of Michigan. Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia; and a Certified Underground Storage Tank Professional in Michigan.

"Mr. David Flowers, Natural Water Solutions, LLC. B.S. - Civil and Environmental Engeering-Clarkston University; Registered Professional Engineer in Michigan and Wisconsin; Certified Grade 4A Wastewater Treatment Plan Operator in New York; Certificed Grade IV, Wastewater Colleciton Systems Operator-New England (voluntary); Board Certified Environmental Engineer-American Academy of Envronmental Engineers."

The presentation will take place at 3pm and at 7pm on Wednesday Marcy 24. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, click here.

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Photo: Sunset at Pt. Betsie by ETCphoto.

The Grand Vision Energy Working Group will host a Renewable Energy forum on March 17.

It starts at 7pm and will be held at the Traverse Area District Library.

Michigan currently receives only 3% of its electricity from renewable energy. By law, electricity providers will have to increase this percentage to at least 10% by 2015 due to PA 295, also know as Michigan’s Renewable Energy Standard.

But what is the working definition for renewable energy? How much does it cost? How long are the paybacks? Where can different systems get sited? Is solar really viable in northern Michigan? While some people want to see even more renewable energy come on-line in the near future, what are the challenges that must first be met?

Join the Grand Vision Energy Working Group along with:

• Heritage Sustainable Energy - who developed the largest installation of wind turbines in Northern Michigan at Stoney Corners.
• Inovateus Solar - a leading distributor and integrator of solar electric and PV solutions in the Midwest.
• Traverse City Light and Power - a community owned, municipal utility whose goal of 30% renewable energy by 2020 is the largest among regional utilities.

One of the guiding principles of the Grand Vision is to incorporate sustainable energy principles into building, transportation, power generation, and all aspects of the region's economy. Renewable and green energy development is a strong component of that principle, as the region seeks to implement the Grand Vision and start tackling the new, green economy.

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Photo: The Not-So-Impossible Dream by Garden Beth.

Every two weeks we send out our Grand Vision update. In addition to a roundup of recent stories of interest, we feature a photo from our Grand Vision group on the photo sharing site Flickr. If you'd like to see YOUR photo featured here, click to join the Grand Vision group!

ETCphoto (Terry Clark) took this picture of one of the world's most photographed lighthouses. Be sure to check this out bigger or (even better) in Terry's Point Betsie slideshow.

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7&4 News was there and filed this report, including an interview with Grand Traverse County Road Commission Manager Mary Gillis who said "You're going to see roads falling apart." Watch that video here.

9&10 News was also on hand and reports that "more than 70 million dollars in projects that MDOT cut or that are on delay include repairing a stretch of M-22 in Leelanau County."

They spoke with MDOT spokesman Bob Felt, who said ""The majority of money we need for the road and bridge projects come from the federal piece, not being able to come up with that match is going to give the money to other states." Watch that video report here.

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Photo: Spring Blossoms, Betsie River Pathway by jimflix.

"[TC City Manager Ben] Bifoss and [TC Mayor Chris] Bzdok recently met with MDOT officials and learned it's too late to widen the road enough to install separate bike lanes, a move that would change the "scope" of the project and result in a loss of stimulus funds.

"City officials now plan to paint large symbols on the road that direct motorists to share the full traffic lane with cyclists. The markings, called "sharrows" by some cyclists, feature a large image of a bicycle topped with an arrow.

"They'll be painted intermittently along the road and coupled with "share the street" signs along the road. The move is designed to accommodate cyclists without throwing a wrench in the project.

"The bike lane issue generated loads of discussion and e-mails to commissioners in the weeks since Bzdok publicly criticized City Engineer Tim Lodge's handling of the project. The city's past and current master plans either explicitly or generally call for bike lanes and along Eighth and other city streets, as does a regional planning project dubbed The Grand Vision."

To read the full article, including reaction, click here.

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Photo: Smart Commute Week, Traverse City, Michigan by TART Trails.

"State policies to support local ownership can triple or quadruple the economic benefits of their wind resource. Energy efficiency standards can bring self-reliance closer and reduce consumer costs. And PACE programs can bring the energy home, putting the power of self-reliance in every community.

"Energy self-reliant states have stronger economies. And new data on wind power potential reveals that five Midwestern states could match their current electricity use with domestic wind power. But along with the good news, these states -- Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan -- should take note of the stakes.

"How can these five states get "something real"? There are 32 states that have enough in-state renewable energy to be energy self-reliant. And successful models in these states illustrate how local ownership, energy efficiency and innovative local government financing can maximize the economic returns of this resource.

"A single wind turbine creates $1 million in economic activity, according to theAmerican Wind Energy Association. And that's just a generic, utility-scale turbine.

"How important is local ownership? Ohio's wind potential could generate 94 percent of the state's electricity and -- if locally owned -- $173 billion in economic activity.

"States can also move toward energy self-reliance by reducing demand. Efficiency Vermont -- the state's nonprofit clearinghouse for energy efficiency -- used aggressive, targeted programs to keep electricity consumption flat in 2008.

"States are also empowering cities and counties to pursue energy self-reliance, with "property assessed clean energy" (PACE). PACE enabling legislation lets local governments use their bonding authority to give citizens full financing for substantial energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on their property.

"The costs of the improvements are covered via a loan that is paid back on the person's property taxes over a period up to 20 years. The PACE approach has two key benefits. Because property owners are responsible for the entire loan, there's no general taxpayer liability and no impact on city budgets or county credit ratings. Additionally, the PACE loan removes the upfront costs of investing in renewable energy and efficiency, and the loan terms match the payback period of the improvements."

To read the full article, click here.

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Photo: Storm Clouds, Platte Lake, Benize county by j_lakechick.

"Janis Groomes knows what it takes to convince kids to eat their vegetables. Locally grown cucumbers, parsnips, squash, asparagus and kale have all been used in meals at Northport Public School, where Groomes is food service director. "(It's) always a challenge to get an elementary student to eat a green bean -- whether it's fresh or frozen or canned," she said. "You have to sell the product."

"A 2008 farm-to-school conference inspired Groomes to connect with local farmers and follow some of the fresh, local food ideas used by other school districts.

"She plans to attend another farm-to-school conference this month with a group of Northport teachers and students. "Farm to School: Setting the Table for Wellness" takes place March 15 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme. The event is organized by the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District and the Michigan Land Use Institute. Diane Conners, the institute's senior policy specialist for food and farming, expects several hundred people to attend representing the region's schools, camps, community and health groups and farmers.

"Gene Peyerk, food service director and chef at Glen Lake Community Schools, had an idea for area schools to compile well-received cafeteria recipes into a cookbook. The regional farm-to-school cookbook will be available online. Peyerk said it would be a helpful resource if schools contribute one or two items they make from scratch. Challenges to school cooking include the need to expand recipes to feed large numbers and the limited equipment in some school kitchens, Peyerk said. "There was a lot of interest in trying to get back to scratch-cooking and better tasting food," he said."

To read the full article, click here.
For more on the conference, click here.

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Photo: Barn cluster, Leland, Michigan by ETCphoto.

"Bay Area Transportation Authority will receive a sizable chunk of federal stimulus money designed to support Michigan's rural transit agencies. State transportation officials will dole out $12.4 million to non-urban transit agencies across the state, including more than $1 million to BATA. The agency will buy six new hybrid buses, surveillance cameras to install inside buses and mobile computer terminals for eight buses.

"We survive on stimulus money in terms of being able to replace our fleet and continue service to the public with upgrades in equipment," said Tom Menzel, BATA executive director."

To read the full story, click here.

Last Friday (Mar 5), regional busing for Northern Michigan was the topic on IPR's Point's North. Click here to listen to the program.

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Photo: Lake Bellaire, Michigan by jt354.