Reflections from the 2008
Michigan Energy Fair ('08)
Coordinated by
GLREA - Great Lakes
Renewable Energy Association
by LeRoy Harvey
(with photos by Jeremy Wittrock)
A sustainable future seems kinda far away sometimes. So did my hopes of making it to the Michigan Fair this year.
No room (or campsite). No reservation. No ride. No money... Just an inkling that it might be possible to attend.
But... perhaps like the journey to a sustainable future, my road to the Fair had already been launched --- with a desire to be there and a belief in the possible.
The second step was not mine -- but an invitation friend to help with a workshop (and leads on a room and ride).
Now the fire was stoked. Fond memories from the first two Energy Fairs kept it burning. An offer from another friend to share a ride clinched the decision. Undaunted by threats of rain and foul weather, I was almost there.
Unfortunately, a digital camera was not in my backpack. But -- thanks to Facebook and GLREA's Jeremy Wittrock -- I've added a few photos to bring the Fair to life. Now if you can just imagine the wind, the smells of fresh home cooking, the hot sun, and the occasional sound of an overloaded County Fair speaker system -- you're almost there!
Jeremy takes a brief pause to relax
and appreciate the moment.
The Fair was a climate changing event! A spirit of fun, constant buzz about the latest energy technology; crisp warnings about and solutions for peak oil, coal, and global warming; all-aged workshoppers crafting earthen stoves and walls; and an endless stream of GLREA-T-shirt-clad volunteers.
Eclipsed only by a brief-but-blustery tent-toppling windstorm at dinner, Fairgoers' enthusiasm peaked during a visit from Governor Granholm. Jennifer Alvarado, again proved her master-MC abilities...
The weather could not have been better... though some exhibitors were a little stormy that their exhibits did not receive optimal placement for maximum wind speed.
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Some of the greatest moments were the least expected. One of those was a workshop by Cary Urka called "Preemptive Recycling Strategies." Cary runs the mechanical side of a strawberry farm and fixes everything "from telephones to tractors." His enthusiasm and ability to repair and create useful things about of metal (like a passive solar water heater out of old hot water heater tanks) seems unsurpassed. According to Cary, the latest $600 Hobart welding machines are all you need to handle most jobs you'll run in to.
This was not what I expected at a renewable energy fair, but certainly a critical piece of the pie: making and fixing things that last -- especially when we consider all the energy embodied in all the things we buy and throw away.
photo from
http://www.urkafarms.com/Welder_Index.htm
Every restaurant and truck driver will want one of these on-site bio-diesel units...
Wind is working in Michigan! This vertical axis model was spinning all weekend.
Perhaps most delightful was seeing old friends from around Michigan, students from my Alternative Energy Classes at Lansing Community College, and making new friends!
Tom Stanton, John Sarver, and I had the opportunity to practice leading a couple "Open Space" sessions, exploring ideas for a renewable energy initiative that Tom is developing. In these sessions, the audience identified several areas and approaches that they'd like to see included in a renewable energy future:
Even after a long day and big dinner (not to mention a breathtaking wind/hail storm), Dave Konkle still managed to wow the audience. He shared a diverse array of solar, wind, building, transportation, and community-friendly options he's stewarded along (with help from the local Energy Commission, citizens, the State Energy Office, and many others) over the past 20+ years.
Thanks to the foresight of David Gard, a regulation Frisbee was brought to the fair. With a little enthusiasm from several 12 to 48 year-olds, we were able to muster up a 5-on-5 game of Ultimate Frisbee in the Grand Stand field Sunday afternoon.
I left the fair feeling quite a bit closer to a sustainable future -- armed with new friendships, enthusiasm, and a sense that there are many that are very far along the road already, like Dave Konkle, who will soon be helping communities around the country to set up Energy Commissions and regional energy manager positions to help guide regions toward a smarter, economical, eco-friendly, and peaceful future.
Thank you to GLREA for the courage to help pull off another great Michigan Energy Fair.
-LeRoy
PS The house coffee was much better this year!
more at www.glrea.org