February 19,2009 Vol. XXV No. 14 one copy FREE NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN WHITE PINEWe hew to the line; let the chips fall where they may Alternative energy has Michigan seeing green Lansing must "step up to the plate" “This will take some work from interested citizens teed a 10 percent profit margin.” ABRAHAM MORRISON to make it work,” said Dulzo. Dulzo predicts that if the alternative energy industry Press Managing Editor One way he said that support could be raised is by in Michigan grows, employment will follow suit. I instituting a renewable energy payments. In layman’s With a stalled economy and skyrocketing unemploy­ terms, that means if someone puts a solar panel up ment, that’s exactly what Michigan needs right now. In her “State of the State” address, Governor Jenni­ onto the roof of their house, the utility company has to “It’s going to put a hell of a lot of people to work,” fer Granholm laid out ambitious goals for the state of pay for the electricity they generate. said Dulzo. Michigan in the green energy sector. The big question “What it allows people to basically do is get into is how and where to start. the green energy business on their own,” said Dulzo. Jim Dulzo, the Managing Editor for the Michigan “It’s aimed at allowing people to make a profit by Land Use Institute outlined what he considers the three doing it, not just saving on their bills.” most important steps toward capitalizing Michigan’s Dulzo said that the transition to green energy in potential in wind power. Dulzo said the first priority is Germany has been extraordinarily successful, and the to pass a statewide law on wind energy. statistics back him up. “A big part of our problem now is where are you Between 2004 and 2007, employment in the re­ going to put them,” said Dulzo. “Each township has newable energy sector rose 50 percent to a total of their own laws. Some don’t have any laws.” 249,300 jobs. If the United States matched those That greatly complicates the process of getting ap­ numbers per capita, there would be one million jobs proval to put up windmills. in renewable energy alone. “Essentially, a jurisdiction must adopt an ordinance Germany’s renewable energy industry, which in­ as part of the zoning code that allows for windmills,” cludes wind, solar and biomass power, provided jobs said Heather Seyfarth, a community planner for the for 249,300 people in 2007, a 50 percent jump from Land Information Access Association. “If a homeown­ 2004. On a per capita basis, that is comparable with er wanted to install a windmill, it would have to be al­ creating one million U.S. jobs. The German govern­ lowed for in the residential section or whatever zone ment is expecting those numbers to continue to rise, they lived in. “ Dulzo believes that the state government must step reaching 400,000 by the year 2020. in to streamline the process. Unfortunately, energy efficiency means lower rev­ “Lansing needs to step up to the plate and get a enues for utility companies because consumers will good zoning and citing ordinance going so that when a be purchasing less electricity. Dulzo said that Gover­ company comes in to put a wind turbine in, they don’t nor Granholm can help smooth the transition without have to fight the same fight because of different set of even going to legislature by using the Michigan Public rules,” said Dulzo. Service Commission to decouple rates. The next step Dulzo listed was a substantial in­ The Wall Street Journal defined decoupling like vestment in alternative energy. The federal stimulus this: “Utilities start programs to promote efficiency, package has roughly $50 billion allotted to alternative such as helping consumers upgrade to more efficient energy development. A portion of that amount will be appliances. States let the utilities make up some of the sent to Michigan. Lansing is expecting $7 million for lost revenue if consumers use less power.” wind turbine deployment and $2 million for solar en­ Instead of making a profit from selling a certain ergy department. Overall, Granholm said the legisla­ number of amount of power, they will be paid to pro­ tion would create more than 100,000 jobs according vide a service to the market. for the state. “In a normal business model, they’re selling less The last thing Dulzo said was necessary for Michi­ electrons, so less money,” said Dulzo. “In the new gan reap the benefits of alternative energy is communi­ model, however much money we spend, we’re guaran­ ty support. NEANDERTHAL'S - FOOD ON A OSCAR'S GOT TWITTER NO-NO GENOME SHEDS LIGHT P5 SHOESTRING P9 MILK? P12 P12 It n 9 NEWS February 19, 2009 Vz £— on campus WHITE PINE PRESS NMC projects up for funding College officials have proposed four projects for federal stimulus funding, should it become available. The projects, totalling an approximate $28 million, include: -safety infrastructure developments pertaining to key systems, identification systems and monitoring cameras; -energy infrastructure developments incorporating energy-efficient and conservation upgrades to five existing campus buildings; -a transit hub, introducing four eco-friendly buses to the area for shuttling students between campuses; and -an eco-learning center, renovating West Hall into a one-stop shop for student life and recreation. The project proposes West Hall be converted in to a Platinum Level Building, includ­ ing wind and solar energy, geo-thermal walls and labs for energy classes. Updates will follow as more information becomes available. NMC seeks Outstanding Alumnus nominations NMC is calling on the community to for nominations for the 2009 NMC Outstand­ ing Alumnus Award. This award was established in 1988 to recognize NMC alumni who are noteworthy for one or more of the following: - Continued donation of time, talent, resources and enthusiasm on behalf of the NMC STUDENTS IN WEST HALL enjoy a self-proclaimed "danger­ college ous" game of "Bomb" at the pool table. A mix between the games - Significant professional achievements Horse and pool, Bomb is played with five or more players, where the - Exemplary leadership in community and professional activities object is to hit the four-ball into a pocket on the table with the Q-ball. Nomination forms are available online at www.nmc.edu/alumni and are due by Fri­ Samantha Byndas, a student here at NMC, says, "It's a gentlemen's day, Feb. 27. In March, a committee of alumni representatives will review the nomina­ game; we vote on new rules as we go, like a democracy." The rules tions and make a final recommendation to NMC President Tim Nelson in early April. seem to range from practical to unnecesary to ridiculous. The game is The award recipient will officially be introduced at NMC s commencement ceremony, played all over Michigan campuses, originating in Holland. scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2009. A recognition dinner will be held in June. Last year’s Outstanding Alumnus award was presented to McMillen, a local business owner. Other past winners include local photographer and Traverse City Film Festival co-founder John Robert Williams (2007), State Senator Jason Allen (2003) and Walter J. Hooper (1999), who is the immediate past chair of the NMC Board of Trustees. FLORIDA'S #1 SPRING BREAK HOTEL FOR 20 YEARS NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE Tropical Beaches of Pagtona Beach OVER 1,000,000 STUDENTS WHITE PINE PRESS SPRING BREAK 2009 CAN'T BE WRONG! 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EMAIL [email protected] ‘tUl.L.Lt.dL- R1SOR1 HOTtl & SUITES Printed by Morning Star Publishing and distributed free. Printed on 1OO% recycled paper February 19, 2009 NEWsnq WHITE PINE PRESS on campus NMC hosts career fair-even in a down economy ALLISON PETERS Press Editor-in-Chief ■ WHITNEY DUQUE ■ Press Staff Writer Who is hiring in a down economy? According to NMC Career and Employment Specialist Kristy McDonald, this should not be career-seeking peoples primary concern. “I would hope that people are optimistic and have hope. It’s not going to be this way forever. When the economy turns around, it can open the doors.” Maritime Academy Open House On Wednesday, February 25, NMC will be hosting a career fair ■ JIM MCCORMICK from 2:30-4:30 p.m.