See our right-hand column for announcements and news briefs. Scroll down the right-hand column to access the Archives -- links to articles posted in the main column since 2007. See details about our site, including a way to comment, in the yellow text above the Archives.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

OPINION: A letter to City of Houghton and Portage Township residents on proposed cell phone tower near Houghton Elementary School

Houghton Elementary School. Concerned parents are discussing a potential Verizon cell phone tower to be built near the school. Some consider it a danger to children's health. Concerned parents and other residents are invited to a meeting to discuss the issue at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

By Krissy Sundstrom*

A major review of health effects from cell tower base stations found that both anecdotal reports and some epidemiology studies have found headaches, skin rashes, sleep disturbances, depression, decreased libido, increased rates of suicide, concentration problems, dizziness, memory changes, increased risk of cancer, tremors, and other neurophysiological effects in populations near base stations.**

Although the science is emerging and not yet definitive, the study recommends as a general guideline that cell base stations should not be located less than 1500 feet from the population and at a height of 150 feet. Verizon has proposed a 75-foot high cell tower base station in Houghton near the Houghton Elementary School.

As a precaution until the science has proven cumulative increases in electromagnetic radiation from cell towers is safe and you would prefer Verizon find another location for their cell tower please click here to sign a petition.

If you have children that go to Houghton Elementary or you are a taxpayer in the district please contact the Superintendent Doreen Klingbeil directly at 482-0451 Ext. 1030 or email doreen@hpts.us.

A meeting for parents and community members to gather and discuss the proposed cell tower next to the Houghton Elementary School will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, in the Community Room, Portage Lake District Library.

A City of Houghton Planning Commission meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, in the City Council Chambers. Please come to show your opposition. the city's only action is a site plan review to make sure it meets the ordinance. It's out of their hands, but your attendance is crucial to show the school board and Verizon that a significant number of people are concerned.

Notes:

* The author of this article, Krissy Sundstrom, is a concerned parent and resident of Portage Township.

** Click here to read this article by B. B. Levitt and H. Lai: "Biological effects from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays." Environmental Reviews (2010) 18: 369-395.

Editor's Note: Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of Keweenaw Now.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Green Film Series to present films on production, consumption patterns vs. sustainable economy May 21

HOUGHTON -- The Green Film Series at Michigan Tech will present three short films, produced between 2007 and 2013, that explore our production and consumption patterns, the policies and business practices behind them, and how we can move our economy in a more sustainable direction, starting with orienting ourselves toward a new goal.

The films -- Story of Stuff, Story of Change, and Story of Solutions -- will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 21, in Fisher 135 on the Michigan Tech campus. (Please note the change of location.)

A discussion until 9 p.m. will follow the 60 minutes of films, with facilitators Christa Walck, Michigan Tech associate provost, and Rick Loduha, co-director of the Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center in the Finlandia University Jutila Center for Global Design and Business.

Entry is FREE. A $3 donation is suggested. Enjoy refreshments provided by the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

The Green Film Series is co-sponsored by Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society, Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Keweenaw Land Trust and Michigan Tech Film Board.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Free public workshop May 18 to offer residents info on solar panels

By Michele Bourdieu

The public is invited to learn about saving money with solar power at this free public workshop, Going Solar in the Keweenaw, Monday, May 18. (Poster courtesy energizehoughton.org)

HOUGHTON -- High electricity rates mean that solar power can be a good deal in the Keweenaw. A workshop, Going Solar in the Keweenaw, will show local residents how to save money on electricity by installing solar panels.

This free public workshop will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 18, in Fisher 139 on the Michigan Tech campus. The presenter will be Abhilash "Abhi" Kantamneni, PhD student in Computer Science at Michigan Tech and author of the Michigan Solar Calculator and Guidebook.

Wondering if solar is for you? Abhi has answers to questions like these:

    How many panels do I need?
    How much will it cost?
    How soon can I pay it back?
    What about snow?
    Can I do it myself?
    Are there permits or rules?

This workshop will walk you through everything you need to know about going solar in Houghton: from dealing with snow on panels to utility interconnection agreements. Attendees are asked to bring copies of their electric bills over a 12-month period.

"Abhi" Kantamneni has given several local presentations on solar energy and has worked with the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) on their Houghton County Energy Plan.*

At the April 23, 2015, Lake Superior Celebration of Energy and Sustainability at the Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC), Abhi announced this workshop and presented an overview of his reasons for wanting to "Solarize Houghton." He began by explaining how surprised he was when he arrived at Michigan Tech from India and noted the absence of solar energy -- and how he was even more surprised when he received his first electric bill.

Here are some video excerpts from Abhi's presentation at the GLRC:

During his solar presentation at the April 23 Lake Superior Celebration of Energy and Sustainability, Abhi speaks about the high electricity bills in the Upper Peninsula and explains why snow should not be an obstacle to installing solar panels. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Here Abhi demonstrates why Houghton, because of its high electric bills, offers a greater return on solar investment than areas with more sunshine.

Abhi said his hope is to make Houghton County the most solar-friendly county in the United States. He also spoke about his plan for a series of workshops for both high school students and adults -- including this upcoming May 18 workshop -- so that residents can learn about solar and decide for themselves whether it is worth their investment.**

Houghton resident installs vertical solar panels

Just two days after the GLRC Lake Superior Celebration, on April 25, 2015, one Houghton resident celebrated his own installation of an extensive residential solar array -- 36 vertical panels -- by hosting a talk by the engineer who helped him plan the project, which, after only three winter months, was already earning a credit on his electric bill.

This photo shows the solar panel array installed at 1104 Datolite Street in Houghton, an apartment complex owned by Allan Baker, who took the photo during snowfall in early April in order to show that snow does not accumulate on the panels. (File photo © and courtesy Allan Baker) 

Houghton Realtor Allan Baker worked with his friend and consultant, James Malosh -- a Michigan Tech graduate who is a professional engineer with a PhD in mechanical engineering, a founding fellow of the Institute of Diagnostic Engineers and the holder of five patents -- to determine the most economical and scientific way to install solar panels on an apartment building Baker owns in Houghton.

Here are some video clips from Malosh's presentation, "An Engineering Approach to Solar PV Installation":

Engineer James Malosh presents the design criteria he and Allan Baker considered in order to choose the design for the solar array on Baker's property in Houghton. Malosh gives several considerations that led to their decision to choose a vertical design. Click on YouTube icon to view this video on a larger screen. (Videos © and courtesy Allan Baker)

Malosh reports savings on electric bills this past winter through the net-metering with this solar array. He notes the savings for a year would probably equal 10 percent of the costs for purchasing and installing the system -- allowing it to pay for itself in 10 years.

Following the presentation, members of the audience asked questions and shared their own interests in solar panels.

Allan Baker (standing) circulates through the audience with a microphone to allow people to ask questions and make comments.(Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Baker is excited about sharing his experience with others and encourages interested local residents to consider joining a buying group to save costs on solar panels.

"A group of us have formed a solar buying group," Baker says. "We hope to get a wholesale price on solar panels and possibly help one another put them up."

Baker has also attended meetings of the Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) and plans to share his ideas with them. He plans to attend Abhi's May 18 workshop and participate in the efforts to Solarize Houghton.

If you are interested in joining the solar buying group, contact Baker at abaker@allansrealty.com.

* Click here to read about the Houghton County Energy Plan.

** For more information visit the Solarize Houghton website.

Recycling specialist to speak on Michigan recycling initiative May 18 at Carnegie Museum

HOUGHTON -- The public and local business owners are invited to a presentation by Brian Burke, Recycling and Waste Minimization Specialist for the Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 18, at the Carnegie Museum in Houghton.

Burke will speak about Governor Snyder's residential recycling initiative to double recycling from 15 percent to 30 percent by increasing access to and participation in recycling programs.* The Copper Country Recycling Initiative, a citizens task force, is investigating how Houghton County can provide more options for recycling to residents and businesses and extend the life of our regional landfill.

Burke will address municipal officials in a separate afternoon meeting and will tour the local transfer station on Tuesday morning. For more information about this event or the Copper Country Recycling Initiative, please email Susan Burack, sburack@pasty.net.

* Click here to learn more about the Michigan recycling initiative.