Farmland and Open Space Preservation Millage

Voters in Ingham County, Michigan approved a new millage to help preserve farmland within the county. Land owners can work with Ingham County to enter into land preservation agreements in order to ensure their land is not used for residential or commercial development.

This public effort states loud and clear that voters realize the importance of maintaining agricultural and natural lands for a healthy ecosystem and healthy, local food production.

The tie between a strong economy and open spaces is becoming more clear, as evidenced through initiatives like this one. 

Learn more at: www.conservationcampaign.org/ourfarmsourfuture/

Detroit ranks high among cities with awful commutes

Forbes.com has published an article featuring metro areas in large cities across the country that are known for terrible commutes for those living and working in each city.

Metro Detroit would do well to incorporate better public transit.

Boston is listed in the Forbes article and offers a great example of what to do.

Rebuilding Michigan - Transit by Rail

Homebuilders are leaving Michigan as reported today by NPR at a rate that is expected to increase. These companies are heading to other states where they believe there is higher potential need for their services. This is likely a trend that, in the short term, can't be headed off. Over time, though, as our state's economy recovers, homebuilders (and builders in general) will play a significant role in the "smart growth" that is needed.

Part of rebuilding Michigan should incorporate investment in and development of public transit by rail to and from business, residential, and tourist hubs across the state. There are jobs to be had and there is money to be made in smart infrastructure development for rail transit - perhaps builders can invest in this development, diversifying their base, increasing their profit margins, and (maybe) allowing them to stay in Michigan.

 

Conservation Week in Michigan

We're in the middle of Conservation Week in Michigan - this year titled "Land Preservation Week" to highlight the importance of our state's natural assets. Look up your local land conservancies and other outdoors organizations for events and activities this week (and throughout the year). It's also No Child Left Inside Week in Michigan, a nice fit with Conservation Week to get the whole family and the whole neighborhood outdoors.

Connect to your local natural amenities!

National Parks for Sale: Michigan's Natural Assets at Risk

Land for sale: Sleeping Bear Dunes

Michigan residents have long worked to make sure that our natural resources are publicly accessible - not just to private individuals able to buy large swaths of land to do with what they will. Our National and State Parks are crucial to public access to our outdoors. Michigan's duneland is like nothing else on earth, Congress (and the Michigan Legislature wrt State Parks) should do everything possible to help protect it and that includes allowing the National Park Service to acquire and manage critical lands within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Congressional funding would allow this to happen.

Many private landowners want to be able to keep land in conservation after they sell it, but have to weigh the pros and cons of getting the most for their property. Too often, this means selling to developers. Land Conservancies can help such landowners weigh their options. A handful of other states have enacted Conservation Tax Credit Programs that help make the decision to keep land in conservation more economically feasible for landowners. This option is being considered in Michigan and a federal conservation tax credit just expired. The federal credit, if extended (preferably permanently) could help with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore problem by providing conservation protection on private lands within the Lakeshore at a discounted rate - providing savings to the National Parks Service in their effort to acquire critical lands. Learn more about the federal tax incentive at www.lta.org and let your member of Congress know that you'd like to see this incentive extended. (2007 CTC Wall Street Journal.)

Protection of and access to unique natural amenities (i.e. Sleeping Bear Dunes) make Michigan a place people are drawn to. National, state, and local policies ought to reflect that reality.

Biofuels vs. Food: Op-Ed Writers Gone Wild

The Opinion section of today's New York Times features a bit by Paul Krugman that comes across less as a piece on the world food crisis (his stated topic) than as a slightly veiled attack against biofuels. You can read it at: Krugman Grains Gone Wild

A response to Grains Gone Wild was in order. I'm tired of naysayers (well intended or not) whining about the challenges of solutions to petrol dependence, ready to write off any opportunity just because it may not be an easy answer or an easy fix. It's akin to burying your head in the sand. The status quo approach of sucking up petroleum fuels without any alternative or ANY reduction in consumption is tired and played out. Biofuels aren't THE solution, they're a part of the solution - a solution that is desperately needed. Yes, biofuels make sense if produced and used sustainably - let's focus our attention on calling for policies that support that approach (i.e. Energy Bill 2007 was an okay first step.) My 'letter to the editor' that probably won't get published is below...

In “Grains Gone Wild” (4/7/08) Paul Krugman writes a useful Op-Ed in his direct and brief approach on the world food crisis, except in his overly simplified statements against biofuels. Krugman cites a recent Time Magazine article which was based on studies of hypothetical effects of land use changes from production of biofuels at rates of production not supported by the U.S. Congress or anyone I’ve come across in the alternative fuels arena. The studies considered in the Time article are important for advancing the dialogue on biofuels, but should not be taken as reason to throw biofuels under the bus. Biofuels should be produced and used responsibly; they should be a part of the equation to slow climate change and reduce dependence on petroleum as the sole transportation fuel source. Mr. Krugman, while attempting to discredit biofuels, completely avoids mentioning the need to reduce fuel consumption (whether petroleum based or biofuels) or other ways individuals can work to address the food crisis – like buying local, in-season foods and reducing meat consumption. I commend Mr. Krugman for raising the food crisis issue, but have to question his focus on biofuels as scapegoat.