July 8 was Energy Independence Day….according to Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens. That's when he began his campaign to wean Americans from foreign oil. He came to Ann Arbor to promote it in October and he came to Michigan again recently, with much less fanfare. Still his message was one the state should heed.
In February, Governor Granholm formed a wind advisory panel. It's a diverse group from industry, government and academia. The group will tell the Governor that Michigan's power plants are old. They need replacing. But not with coal. Instead go out on the Great Lakes and look for wind. Michigan Now's Chris McCarus talks with one of the panel members.
A lot has been written about the collapse of the housing market. So now how can the market pick back up and, more importantly, where? Turns out experts have a prettygood idea where it will NOT be. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus gets the low down.
The Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition brought international experts to the state's capital this week to discuss the changing energy landscape. Only a couple of lawmakers attended and Michigan Now's Chris McCarus was the only reporter there. The event showed how hard it is to shift the focus from the old economy to the new one.
Think about your town in square feet. Not square miles. Calculate each 12 inches square. How much will you need for parking and how much for the buildings themselves? One suburb is trying to balance the two and maximize economic growth.
Europe rebuilt itself after World War 2. And America helped out with the Marshall Plan. In January, Warren had almost twice as many foreclosures as any other city in Macomb county. It is near the front of the current American meltdown. Ironic then that Europeans could show this suburban community the path to rebirth. Michigan Now's Chris McCarus reports.
Want to let others know how to fix Michigan? The Center for Michigan is holding community conversations for anyone interested ....and the Michigan Suburbs Alliance is getting local officials to talk with people in their 20's and 30's. As Michigan Now's Chris McCarus reports, they're starting at the grass roots.
Michigan is not exactly known for its multi-culturalism, but in this Obama age, stereotypes can be broken. A jazz and pop master from the Ivory Coast is playing Dick Odow’s Pub in Birmingham Friday night. He also played in a 14 year old kid's basement in Birmingham this week. Michigan Now's Chris McCarus was there.
Interest in transit for Southeast Michigan is gaining ground but no ground has been broken. Even with plans for easy on and off trains from Detroit to Pontiac and Ann Arbor to Detroit no one seems to be able to close the deal. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus compares Michigan's lack of action with Boston's investment in rail and its $16 billion big dig.
The ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY may have only been strong enough for one war 60 years ago. Today, Detroiters are asking Congress to save the arsenal of democracy. But Congress isn’t listening. So what is left of it? Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus looks for answers.
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