More Than Fun in the Sun

Summer means beaches and barbecues, right? Think again. There’s a lot more to do in the Keweenaw than play in the sun.

It would be impossible to include every cultural, historical, musical, artistic, outdoor, educational, and festive event or activity that happens in our portion of the U.P. in just one article. Summer in the Copper Country is relatively brief and can be intense—not just with the swings in temperature, but with the frenzy of activities. On any given weekend from June through September, there might be a dozen or more things to do, see and experience. I think of it as summer’s version of a blizzard: exciting, but definitely calls for some planning.

And then there’s the weather. Maritime? Fickle? Pick your adjective, but thankfully there’s so much to do that doesn’t require cooperative sunshine. We thought it would be fun to focus on some of the not-necessarily-weather-dependent things happening on the Keweenaw. But even narrowing the scope of this article that much I was still overwhelmed with possibilities. So, I decided to focus on just two museums, each dedicated to lifesaving history: Copper Country Fire Fighters Museum and Eagle Harbor Life Saving Station Museum. Both are good bets for visitors of any age. They’re economical and get you up close to history. And in this summer of civic and political division, it is inspiring to spend some time steeped in what humanity at its best values: common welfare.

A team of volunteers keep the Life-Saving Museum open to the public. Photos courtesy Laura Smyth.

You don’t need to be a mariner to imagine how much stamina, strength and courage it requires to head out onto Lake Superior in a winter storm and attempt a rescue operation. At Eagle Harbor Life Saving Station Museum you can see up close just how small and fragile some of those rescue boats were. There are exhibits about major shipwrecks on the Big Lake and commemorations of heroic acts. On July 13, the museum will be hosting an open house, so it’s the perfect chance to visit. There will be a day of speakers and activities, and the setting alone is worth your time.

For land-based lifesaving history buffs, Calumet’s Copper Country Fire Fighters Museum offers a charming, self-guided tour of the village’s past. On the main floor are the old engines, and on the 2nd floor visitors get to step into what life as a firefighter in the early 20th century was like. On the day I visited, a family from Chicago was touring, and their two enthusiastic boys got to sit in the driver’s seats of the old engines, wear firemen’s hats, crank the 1920’s fire alarm and clang the bell. A volunteer, Steve, was there to make us all welcome and clearly enjoyed this inter-generational moment.

Volunteer Steve and boys on a firetruck at the Copper Country Fire Fighters Museum. Photo courtesy Laura Smyth.

Small, community museums like these—staffed by volunteers—are an important part of many towns across the area. They preserve our history, but they also present us with an opportunity to join in imagining our future, together. I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer day on the Keweenaw.

UPPCO, L’Anse star in Goliath v. David

The Upper Peninsula Power Company has filed with the Michigan Supreme Court over the appeal on a case first heard by Judge Charles Goodman in Baraga County Circuit Court. UPPCO lost their case against the Village of L’Anse, wherein they asserted the village was stealing their customers through unlawful means, and denying a franchise unreasonably.

If this case mystifies you a little, you are not alone. Judge Amy Ronayne Krause from the Court of Appeals said the case was interesting but “a little bit complicated” during the oral arguments.

UPPCO sued L’Anse in August of 2018, after being informed their non-exclusive franchise to serve customers in the Dynamite Hill industrial area of L’Anse was not to be renewed. The franchise had a 30-year term. The village was willing and able to serve those customers on the municipal grid at a lower rate, which it was not able to do previously when it annexed the area.

UPPCO lawyers argued that ending the franchise was arbitrary, and that the municipality couldn’t do it without citing a reason, like a health or safety concern. They alleged that L’Anse village officials were behaving dishonestly in order to strip UPPCO of customers, with help from WPPI Energy, who L’Anse contracts with for services.

The Daily Mining Gazette reported in October 2018 that three customers, L’Anse Manufacturing, Collins Brothers Sawmill, and the village water tower, had been switched to the village power supply already. President of L’Anse Manufacturing, Mark Massicotte, said the village power costs were lower and lend a competitive edge to his business. He had worked with UPPCO for twelve years, but requested a transfer to village power in 2016.

The DMG also reported that the village agreed not to switch any more customers over until the trial concluded. That was 28 months ago.

After UPPCO filed two amended complaints days before scheduled court appearances, they eventually lost the case in June of 2019. They filed an appeal the following July, which was decided, again against UPPCO, in November 2020.

If you’ve never been in a courtroom, or if you’re into courtroom drama, the oral arguments are worth listening to. They’re available on the Michigan courts website. The clerk opens with some announcements, and then you have Jason T. Hanselman representing UPPCO, Peter H. Ellsworth representing the Village of L’Anse, and Judges Jansen, Hood and Krause asking questions.

If you aren’t into hearing the entire thing, listen to Ellsworth’s final statement. Other than blatant use of metaphor like “declared war”, I can’t disagree with his statements, based on available evidence. I have read the Bundo and Delmarva cases, too. Of course, I am not a judge or lawyer, either.

And he points out the importance of this case. If municipalities can’t end a franchise with UPPCO, then what choice do consumers have?

I’ll share the entire opinion from the appellate judges, but I think the crux of the issue is really on the last page.

Hope isn’t admissible in court. Here’s the rest of the judge’s opinion.

Twelve wind turbines planned for Houghton County

Twelve wind turbines are being planned for locations in Stanton and Adams Townships, southwest of Houghton. The project, named Scotia Wind, is being developed by Circle Power, a small company based in southern Michigan.

Circle Power is picking up a project that Farm Wind Energy attempted in 2015, but later abandoned. The Scotia Wind turbines are planned for locations that comply with the Adams Township ordinances, whereas Farm Wind Energy was pressing the township to change the ordinance in a way that would allow them to put a turbine on top of Whealkate Bluff, and other locations closer to residences.

“He wasn’t an experienced developer, and he didn’t necessarily understand how people might react,” Jordan Roberts, co-founder of Circle Power, said.

Roberts said about the only thing they took from the previous project was the wind measurement data that they had. He said that Circle Power is trying to be better about engaging with the township, too.

“We were there on a monthly basis,” he said. “Prior to, you know, the coronavirus situation.”

The Adams Township ordinance requires that turbines be set back at least 3,000 feet from the nearest property line, and that sound levels at the nearest property line cannot exceed 55 decibels. The average refrigerator makes about 55 decibels of sound when it is running. The Scotia Wind project is being developed to be on active timberland land, owned by Lake Superior Timberlands, LLC.

This is a screenshot from “The Wind Prospector” a site run by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It shows the area where the turbines will be built is in the light green area, which is labeled as “6.5 to 7 m/s” on the legend. Dark green and blue have speeds reduced at .5 m/s intervals.

Stanton Township does not yet have a wind ordinance, but is working on developing and passing one. Township supervisor John Mattila said it will probably look quite similar to the Adams Township ordinance, as they intend to use it as a template.

Below is a copy of the Adams Township Wind Turbine Power Generation Ordinance, and an application. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines” the ordinance refers to are available here.

Circle Power has not filed for permits with the township yet. Roberts said that they will engage with the permit process once they’re ready.

“We’ve been doing environmental surveys for several years,” Roberts said. “You know, birds, wetlands, our wind studies, are ongoing.”

At the Adams Township meeting on Monday, Christopher Moore, another Circle Power co-founder, shared a map that showed the routes of roads that would need to be constructed or improved to build the turbines. Township officials said it would be shared online, but is not yet available on their website. This is a screen capture from the Zoom meeting.

The turbine’s access road would initially follow the path of the ATC transmission line, before splitting to reach the turbines.

Roberts said he believed there would be “significant” tax generation for the local municipalities and schools, but wasn’t ready to release any numbers. He said they would be supplied to the townships first.

Paperwork filed with the American Transmission Company shows the turbines Scotia Wind is planned to use are Siemens Gamesa 5.0-145 (Type 3) turbines, which have a total height, including blade length, of about 808 feet. The project is intended to generate a maximum of just under 40 megawatts of renewable energy. Agreements for that energy have already been signed by UPPCO.

The introduction of turbines in Houghton County will not impact electric rates for nearby residents. Rates are set through a process through the Michigan Public Service Commission.

“We understand the issue of rates in the area,” Roberts said. “We’re not involved in the rate-making process...”

During the controversy surrounding the now-abandoned Summit Lake Wind Project by RES in L’Anse Township, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council passed a resolution opposing wind energy generation within their ceded territory.

Moore has met with the Tribal Council and other individuals from the KBIC to discuss the impacts and concerns of the project, according to Jeffrey Loman. Loman was involved in protesting the construction of the Summit Lake Wind Farm, but thinks it’s unlikely the turbines in Houghton County will be halted.

On the other hand, Roberts said it will likely be a while before construction can begin.

“We think this is a great location for a wind farm, and we think a bunch of the pieces are falling in place,” Roberts said. “But it’s certainly not a done deal.”

Comments on original story

Daryl Self

Don't you dare destroy that beautiful landscape with bird choppers.

Bill manderfield

Wind is bad, it takes more energy than it gives. They claim to pay taxes but they always find loopholes and don't pay any property tax. I live here I don't want windmills churning at all hours of the day and night. They kill birds constantly and the windmills will not lower anyone's bills. People think about this and fight.

Paul Maki

Wind and Solar are the future for our energy needs. Utilities that promote renewable energy are able to promote lower rates in the end.