by jboullion | Dec 2, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a a story by story by Larry Oakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.
Part of Duluth’s success is having land-based logistical support and cooperative state agencies, especially DOT. Can Minnesota’s success be replicated here …?
DULUTH — In 2005, a ship called the Bavaria arrived in Duluth-Superior from Europe with a visually stunning cargo the gritty taconite and coal port had never seen: gargantuan yet somehow slender blades, hubs and shafts meant for towering wind turbines.
Since then, America’s increasing embrace of wind power has brought the port a windfall, with shipments surging to make the head of the Great Lakes a major funnel for turbines destined for the Upper Midwest and parts of Canada. Jason Paulson, operations manager for Lake Superior Warehousing Co., which transfers turbines from ships to specially designed semitrailer truck caravans, said the port is on track to handle a record 2,000 windmill components this year for several manufacturers, most bound for wind farms in Montana, Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Shipments of wind turbines through the port shot from 34,080 freight tons in 2005 to 307,000 freight tons last year.
The Duluth Seaway Port Authority reported this year that transportation of wind turbines was the single largest factor in making fiscal year 2007 its most profitable.
“The growth is explosive,” Paulson said. “There were times this season when we were moving 12 windmills a day. It’s become the major portion of our heavy-lift business.”
Other stories about the Duluth port.
by jboullion | Dec 1, 2008 | Uncategorized
The draft of Eau Claire’s comprehensive plan on sustainability lists these key issues:
1. Energy: What should the City do to foster improved local energy production,
efficiency, conservation, and diversification by using more alternative fuels?
2. Local Food: What should the City do to promote area food production and
consumption while reducing the amount of waste the food industry creates?
3. Environmental Conservation: What should the City do to safeguard our ecosystems,
trees, soil, and water resources?
4. Atmosphere: What should the City do to reduce our contribution to global
warming and minimize air pollution?
5. Managing Waste: What should the City do to promote consumer product
awareness, increase recycling rates, and reduce the amount of substances entering
into landfills?
6. Strong and Healthy Community: How should the City continue to protect its
citizens from disease, and promote healthy living, civic engagement, cultural and
ethnic diversity, while partnering with others to provide these activities?
7. Sustainable Development: How should the City guide and promote development
so that buildings and neighborhoods incorporate sustainable features?
8. Balanced Transportation: How can the City increase mobility choices by
enhancing other forms of transportation besides that for automobiles? How can
transportation infrastructure be designed efficiently, safely, with the environment in
mind, and connect to other local and regional networks?
9. Greener Economy: How can the City bolster the local economy by attracting
green-collar jobs, supporting our small businesses, and increasing sustainable
purchasing?
10. Sustainable Government: What should the City do to provide good government,
cost-effective services, cooperation with other governments, and meet the needs of
our citizens while not compromising the needs of future generations?
by jboullion | Nov 28, 2008 | Uncategorized
From a post on a site called Volumne One:
Meet to plan programs and projects for upcoming year, and informational update on Eau Claire’s progress towards area sustainability.
7:00 p.m.
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
835-1733
421 S. Farwell St.
Eau Claire, WI
by jboullion | Nov 25, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Evergreen page of the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative:
Evergreen is a voluntary renewable energy (green power) program available to your home, farm, or business through Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, a member-cooperative of the Dairyland Power system. Evergreen is for those who want to do more to support renewable energy generation.
This is how it works:
1. You choose one of the Evergreen Levels listed below.
2. For each block (100 kWh) you will be purchasing that amount of energy from a renewable energy source.
3. Your energy bill will be charged the additional cost (see chart below) to help offset the cost it takes to support renewable energy.
4. A one year subscription is required, but after that you can cancel at any time.
by jboullion | Nov 24, 2008 | Uncategorized
From the Web site of Sustainable Dunn:
Sustainable Dunn will be guided by the following principles:
1. Minimize use of fossils fuels and minerals taken from the Earth.
2. Minimize dependence on manmade chemicals.
3. Minimize harm to the natural world.
4. Meet human needs fairly and efficiently with minimal impact on the environment
To this end, Sustainable Dunn will work to:
1. Raise awareness about the threat global climate change, and other environmental degradation, poses to life on this planet.
2. Raise awareness about the negative impacts of natural resource depletion (e.g, water, oil, etc).
3. Raise awareness about what actions individuals can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
4. Develop policy recommendations regarding actions government and business can take to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
5. Initiate projects in the community to create an environmentally and economically sound present and future.
6. Increase participation in local sustainability efforts.
