Empire Renewable Energy Committee

Comment

Comment by Liana May on December 17, 2009 at 6:19pm

Jeff, Maybe I could get you email address and I can forward along some school grant info that I have recieved. Or email me direct at liana.n.may@gmail.com

Thanks

Comment by Jeffery D. Stratton on December 17, 2009 at 6:12am

Liana,

Thanks for getting back with me on this grant issue. The school is in Alba over in Antrim County and I have been there twice now. They have a great spot for a wind turbine. The school is right in the middle of an old potato field with very little obstructions. The students there just had me come over and do a presentation about the various small turbines that I have available to me. They are very excited about such a possibility of a wind turbine for their school. But like all schools, they have no money. That is where we are at, with that. So a few other people and I have been trying to keep our eyes open for a possible grant for them. So if you have information that could be helpful that would be great.

Glen Lake schools are also in a great spot for a wind turbine. I have been contacted by several people in that area, that want personal turbines for their own homes, but can not have them because the township will not allow them. I know that they have been working on an ordinance but it has been slowly coming along, that is why the person that I mentioned in an earlier post is now doing solar instead. But once the townships ordinance is in place that person will be doing a wind turbine along with the solar panel system that I am installing currently.

Jeff

Comment by Liana May on December 16, 2009 at 11:11pm

Jeff,

I also have information about renewable energy grants for schools. I contacted Glen Lake but they did not get back to me. We would love to facilitate a renewable energy project for interested area schools, and there may be more opportunities coming up. Lets start up a dialog about this.

Liana

Comment by Jeffery D. Stratton on December 14, 2009 at 7:27pm

Elizabeth,

I see the last post that you did in August is a little old but I have a school here in Northern MI that has contacted me several times looking for grants to do renewable energy. So in the future if you come across things like this would you be willing to pass them along. This particular school wants a wind turbine, but like all schools they do not have the money they need to do something like this. Which in reality is a shame. Because the children of today are the future of tomorrow.

The solar project that I referred to in one of your other posts, that person lives in the Glen Lake area and he really wanted a wind turbine, but settled on solar instead. Because the township was dragging their feet on the whole wind turbine issue.

Comment by Elizabeth Edwards on August 7, 2009 at 11:01am

Liana,

I just received some info about state grants to help alternative energy programs in Northern Michigan schools. Are you interested in looking at it. It would be wonderful if someone (group) would pursue it. Lissa Edwards

Comment by Elizabeth Edwards on March 4, 2009 at 11:12am

Liana,

Have you seen this yet: http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc ?

Lissa

Comment by Liana May on March 2, 2009 at 5:08pm

Great ideas Lissa;

in response, I have been looking into the land that GL schools owns and it looks like it has some decent wind potential, particularly if it extends up that very high hill -- where the cell tower is. Do you know?

I have been very busy, and putting together a poster and presentation is on top of my list and I think it would be an excellent idea to bring that to the school, even if this was not a site for us, it should be considered by them. I am currently compiling info on financing and payback times for different sized turbines / wind speeds. There is definitely a potential for it to be revenue generating.

I want to get a hold of Marty at some point, do you know him?

Liana

Comment by Elizabeth Edwards on February 9, 2009 at 8:03am

Liana et all,

Has your group considered working with Glen Lake Schools on a wind turbine? They own some property at the corner of 677 and M-72 that is pretty high. I approached the school board last year ... the board members were very approachable about the idea, the superintendent not so much. But may if a group made a presentation she might listne, especially if it meant some long term income for the school system.

Also, I urge you to not depend on one wind "expert." I've done a bit of writing about it now and there is much more going on than most people realize. One person I'd point you to is Marty Lagina of Heritage Sustainable Energy. His office is on Front Street in Traverse City, 935-3659. Marty comes out of the oil and gas business, so he's not someone alternative energy folks are generally aware of. However, he's completely sold on wind power and is putting a huge farm in McBain. He's really well versed in everything and has a lot of experience with the Power Companies. Really, really a nice guy too--though very busy.

Also, I've always wondered if anyone has thought of harvesting that methane gas from the landfill? I'm thinking I've heard they do that in Vermont?

Lissa