Great Lakes Echo (https://greatlakesecho.org/author/rachaelgleason/page/7/)
Rachael Gleason is a graduate of the Michigan State University and Knight Center for Environmental Journalism master's program. Rachael edited EJ Magazine and reported for Great Lakes Echo for two years. She currently focuses on water privatization issues. Rachael was quiz editor, SmackDown! editor and had a standing feature called Monday Mashup, where she reviewed interactive maps of the Great Lakes region. Rachael is originally from Texas, where she worked as a reporter, photographer and desk editor for several years. In addition to working for the daily newspaper of Huntsville, Rachael also worked as a business reporter for The Houston Chronicle, the newspaper of her hometown. Office: (517) 432-5155 Twitter: @rachaelgleason
Many Great Lakes cities are setting water rate structures that discourage consumption. But these rates can be bad for business if set poorly.
JUNE 10:
Survey shows Great Lakes trend of water rates that encourage conservation
Utility providers set high consumption charges to discourage water use.
JUNE 11:
Conservation rates: Bad for business? Utility providers can lose money if rates aren’t set correctly.
A Great Lakes Echo analysis shows many cities are hiking the per-gallon costs of water to encourage water conservation, especially in large metropolitan areas.
The Great Lakes region is key to developing an innovation-driven green economy, according to a recent report from the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. The report outlines the benefits of creating a region-wide network of energy research centers. “…a series of roughly six of these high-powered, market-focused energy centers would create a critical mass of innovation through their number, size, variety, linkages and orientation to pre-existing research institutions and industry clusters,” according to the report. Accounting for nearly a third of all academic and industry research development in the country, the Midwest “lies at ground zero of the nation’s need ‘green’ the U.S. industry,” according to the report. Each center would call on the region’s top research universities, national and private research laboratories and engineering expertise to examine energy problems ranging from the development of biofuels to the transportation of power.
Great Lakes residents looking to lend a helping hand have a new resource at their fingertips.
An international coalition dedicated to restoring the region’s ecosystem has developed a mashup that allows users to post cleanup opportunities.
Some personalized license plates are too crude for Michigan roads. That’s why the state department weeds out inappropriate requests.
But what if a plate that appears to be suggestive honors Michigan’s natural resources?
The accidental poisoning of Michigan dairy cattle in the 1970s sparked the largest chemical contamination in United States history. Nine million residents consumed contaminated meat and milk for a year.
A community advisory group was created in response to a cleanup at Velsicol Chemical Corp., the company responsible for Michigan’s PBB crisis. Ed Lorenz chairs its legal committee.
Five Great Lakes cities made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of metros with the most energy-efficient buildings. New York and Michigan lead the region with the most buildings with the Energy Star label.
Time Magazine just released a list of the world’s most influential individuals of 2010.
They include pioneers, pop stars and politicians.
Is the Great Lakes region adequately represented? Who did Time miss?
A mashup from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System lets users track vessels navigating Great Lakes waterways in real time. Users can see a list of ships in transit and get information about locks and ports.