Greening Children in Michigan
Today NPR News aired a story about a rural Michigan school district that is pursuing green by using wind turbines to power their schools and offices. The Jr. High Principal, Kathy Dickens, took the initiative three years ago by applying for grants to pursue wind harvesting. As a result of her efforts The Lakers School District was awarded a quarter million dollar grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission.
With that money they purchased three large refurbished wind turbines which now power their elementary school and the superintendent’s office. They have since received another grant and energy smart incentives. The Lakers School District now owns a biodiesel processor in addition to their wind turbines. This spring their high school students will have a “Pressing Party”. They will gather sunflower seeds from the plants growing beneath their wind turbines, combine them with soybeans then press these seeds and beans to obtain oil to make alternative fuel.
Why is this political? This is our future. The students in this community are learning first hand about creating alternate energy sources. Reportedly the students in the Lakers School district are interested in pursuing green in their community and careers. Teaching our children to be good stewards of our land and resources is the future of our country’s economy and security. Beyond politics and Washington, American citizens pursuing energy independence is what will catapult this movement and make a difference.
Photo Credit: Beufort Scale 5 on flickr
Very interesting article. Amazing to hear about schools taking ownership of our Earth and working together to find alternatives.
Excellent and well written! Thank you.
Turns out my daughter just had to do a report on her future city. I find it interesting that she talked much about alternate energy resources which put more money into peoples pockets, which upped their spending, which gave her community an excellent economy. The future was all about green, which really changed the whole town, and the people were healthier, again, making it a flourishing community. I think you are right on and its awesome to know what my daughter had on paper, kids are actually taking part in now!! They are our future!!
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