One Michigan entrepreneur is cashing in on green technology – something that if replicated could make the Great Lakes the nexus of 21st century innovation and revive the economy of the entire eight-state region. What is the greatest resource in our region? Fresh water and what can fresh water produce? Electricity, green electricity to be exact.
A retired Ford Motor Co. engineer, Bill Stockhausen credited with helping build a near-zero-emission car engine has just invested in a turn of the century hydroelectric dam in Elk Rapids. Two turbines use the power created by falling water to produce electricity for 700 near-by homes. In the 1920s and 30s, Henry Ford built close to 24 Village Industries in southeast Michigan that operated on hydropower. “Virtually all are still in existence and could be restored,” Stockhausen told the Free Press.
This is just one avenue toward rebuilding the region’s economy by making fresh water the central theme. Our region has been the birthplace of numerous innovations that have brought about economic might over the past century. Now it is time for our greatest minds to harness our greatest resource and rebuild a new, more vibrant economy based on future commerce that makes the world a better, healthier place for us to live.
The Brookings Institute has published a report showing that by implementing the strategy put forth by the Great Lakes Collaboration Strategy jobs would be created, new industries developed, old industries would migrate back and the region would be rebuilt. It is going to take an initial investment from the Federal government to jump start the process, and lots of entrepreneurs like Stockhausen but the return promises a huge profit. We need to make sure our congressional delegations push the Great Lakes Implementation Act and the next President fully funds restoration at $26 billion. We are so close…
Related posts:
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- New Report Examines $ 1 Billion Green Infrastructure Investment from Recovery Act
- Opportunity – Modernizing the Economy
- Indiana’s Pete Visclosky Gets Cash for Lake Michigan, But Didn’t Push For GLRI Bucks
- The Day after Tomorrow: The Great Lakes in Crisis