Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 10, Number 4 • Fall 2002
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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By: Craig Minowa
A coalition of electrical utilities is planning on laying powerlines under Lake Superior. Northwest Energy Works, a partnership of six utilities hope to lay the massive transmission lines all the way from Thunder Bay, Ontario to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Environmentalists claim little research has been done in regards to the possible negative impacts of such a major subterranean project on the aquatic ecosystems of Lake Superior.
True or false: Duluth's local government is anti-environment. The answer is "E", none of the above. Actually, our local Lake Superior port government makes some pretty Green decisions every now and then. You may remember, not too long ago, Duluth became the first city in North America to ban the sale of mercury thermometers. Well, there's great news this summer, too. Thanks in part to local eco-superheroes like Carin Skoog, Coordinator of Cities for Climate Protection, a while back, the Duluth City Council signed a resolution to become one of a handful of cities in the world to be a part of a campaign to reduce greenhouse gases on a local level. This action will benefit the Great Lakes, a region that computer models show will be greatly affected by global climate change.
As part of its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the City of Duluth has purchased two electric vehicles, a solar powered recharging station and has installed 8 - 300 watt photovoltaic (PV) modules on the roof of the Duluth Public Library. The 2. 4 kW solar paneling system will save the library over $1,000/year in energy costs as it quietly produces clean, renewable energy. St. Louis County has also recently installed an 855 watt PV system on the County garage. Both systems were designed and installed by locally owned and operated Conservation Technologies.
According to Skoog, the ringmaster of this earth-friendly energy bonanza, "Putting this system on one of the area's most heavily-utilized educational facilities with over 250,000 annual visitors is a great way for the City to educate and motivate the community to conserve energy resources. " Following the PV installation, an 'energy and environmental resource display' will be built in the Library. The kiosk's computer will show real-time data about how much energy the panels are producing, how much greenhouse gas emissions are being saved, and compare those statistics with other energy sources, such as coal, oil, natural gas, wood, wind, and hydro.
Are you sick of having to deal with the toxic waste dump along Duluth's lower St. Louis River? Well you finally have a chance to do something about it. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is looking for citizen input to assess the environmental damage that has taken place on and near this 255 acre Superfund site. The land and water was contaminated by 4 companies from 1904 until 1962, and they're responsible to help with the clean-up. The MPCA says this public feedback and damage assessment will determine the clean-up plan, as well as any compensation issues that may have arisen.
Speaking of the dire need for citizen input, John Guenther, Regional Administrator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Lead Authorized Official for the natural resource damage assessment said, "People who live and work along the Lower St. Louis River, and especially those that enjoy fishing, boating, and seeing the many different kinds of plants and wildlife, know first-hand the incredible resources the river has to offer. These individuals and groups, such as the St. Louis River Citizens Action Committee (SLRCAC), are very important to help make sure the trustees are working in the right direction to restore natural resources at the site. "
To see the current clean-up plan, go to http://www. pca. state. mn.us/news/data/index. cfm?PN=1.
More info? Lynelle Hanson at the SLRCAC: 733-9520 or MPCA's Anne Perry Moore 723-2356.
A major development project is quietly underway near Beaver Bay. The Lake County Board recently approved the purchase of 20 acres of shoreline property for the construction of a massive 157 room hotel. According to Glenn Maxham of the Save Lake Superior Association, permits have already been issued to the Australian based "American Towers" company for construction, but extensive environmental mitigations will need to be completed before the development can officially begin. Learn more by contacting Glenn Maxham of the Save Lake Superior Association 218-727-4554.
| Craig Minowa Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) Serving as Hub for Minnesota 394 Lake Avenue South, #222 Duluth, MN 55802 (218)-726-1828 (586)-816-1974(fax) E-mail: craig@earthology.net Website: www.EAGLE-EcoSource.org |