Echo

Sandy mean enough to spit Great Lakes bricks

By David Poulson | November 5, 2012

The remnants of Hurricane Sandy put Great Lakes freighters in port and surfers on the waves. And it caused Lake Erie to cough up Cleveland Stadium rubble. Tremont Electric reports that winds last week spit bricks “out onto the shore in Bratenahl.” When the stadium was demolished 15 years ago, the bricks were dumped into nearby Lake Erie to create an artificial reef. Now apparently they are souvenirs, according to the New England Sports Network.

Echo

Did your mood drop with the leaves?

By admin | November 2, 2012

A less colorful outdoor environment could cause a less positive outlook, some experts say.

Does that mean the faster than usual loss of fall’s warm colors spell an early bout of the winter blahs?

Echo

Bill may increase energy competitiveness

By Matthew Hall | November 2, 2012

The federal Master Limited Partnerships Parity Act would give renewable energy companies some of the tax and funding advantages fossil fuel companies enjoy. Advocates say that giving energy sources the same advantages improves competition and the economy.

Echo

Photo Friday: The vanishing waters of Georgian Bay

By Great Lakes Echo | November 2, 2012

David Foote, who submitted these images, has a house in the Skerryvore community along the Georgian Bay, south of Pointe au Baril, Ontario and North of Parry Sound. The following pictures were taken in late October around the Skerryvore community. According to Foote, the area will match record water level lows set in 1964, by mid November. You can read more on the falling water levels of the Georgian Bay here.

Photos by David Foote

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Skerryvore is on the eastern edge of Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Explore the map below to get a closer look.

Echo

Neighboring states eye Michigan’s energy ballot proposal

By admin | November 1, 2012

Some say if it passes it could spur other Great Lakes states to more aggressively court renewables.

But other energy officials downplay Michigan’s impact on their states.

Echo

Energy policy by constitutional amendment debated

By Dmitri Barvinok | October 31, 2012

Voters will determine this November if Michigan will be the first to insert a clean energy requirement into its state constitution. A key part of the debate is whether the constitution is the appropriate place to dictate a state energy policy.

Echo

Michigan ballot proposal: Energy and job years

By Jennifer Kalish | October 30, 2012

A state ballot proposal could create nearly 75,000 Michigan “job years” by 2025, according to a recent report. The concept of a job year may puzzle Michigan voters asked if 25 percent of their energy should come from renewable sources by 2025.

Recreation

Hurricane worries Great Lakes captains, excites surfers

By Great Lakes Echo | October 29, 2012

The convergence of the hurricane and two other weather systems has most Great Lakes freighters staying in port. But surfers are eagerly hitting the waves as they build hundreds of miles from the center of the storm.

Water

The Great Lakes have some of world’s most concentrated plastic pollution

By James Dau | October 29, 2012

A recent study has discovered dense pockets of micro-plastics in the Great Lakes. Such tiny plastics may enter the food chain. The health implications are unclear and debated.

Echo

Video details Great Lakes governors’ protection efforts

By Matthew Hall | October 29, 2012

A video featuring former governors, scientists and policy experts details projects financed by the Great Lakes Protection Fund. The fund has committed more than $63.9 million to 245 projects to advance conservation, produce sustainable technologies and restore ecosystems in an economically viable way. It was endowed in 1989 by former Great Lakes governors with an $81 million contribution of public funds. About $4 million a year is spent on projects, which are funded by the interest off the endowment, said Amy Elledge, communications director for the fund. Featured projects include scientists designing ballast filters and policy experts discussing ways to make sustainability marketable.