Interest in the renewable energy market in Michigan was also highlighted at the Michigan Wind Manufacturers' meeting prior to the Fair.  This meeting, hosted by GLREA and sponsored by NextEnergy and the Manistee Economic Council & Chamber Alliance at the Crystal Mountain Resort, attracted over 50 attendees.  Manufacturers, developers, local government officials and economic development officers, learned about the potential for wind turbine manufacturing in Michigan.  Kevin Rackstraw of Clipper Windpower addressed the group, and many members then proceeded to the Fair .

 

Fair hours were extended this year in order to grow the number of workshops and tours that were available to fairgoers.   Over seventy workshops were offered this year on a wide variety of topics, including green building, financing of renewable energy projects, energy efficiency, sustainable living and much more.  Peter Sinclair, trained by former Vice-President Al Gore to deliver the An Inconvenient Truth presentation through The Climate Project , delivered two workshops during the weekend to tents packed with fairgoers.  Fairgoers also enjoyed a special hands-on workshop presented by Harmony Homes where they had the opportunity to work with straw and clay building techniques.  The workshop was offered twice and each time was filled to capacity. 

 

Several educational tours were offered throughout the weekend as well, most of which sold out.   Attendees enjoyed the renewable energy home tour, which visited several home and business sites in Northwestern Michigan.   Tours were also offered of Hybrid Homes new build in Onekama, a home currently undergoing review for LEED-H Platinum designation – the first of its kind in Michigan.  Transportation for these tours was provided courtesy of the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA).   BATA provided a 27 foot low-emission hybrid-electric bus for the Hybrid Home tour, a specialized bus that runs on biodiesel when in hybrid mode.  

 

In addition to ongoing events such as workshops, tours and exhibitors, the Fair also featured several special events and keynotes.    Friday evening events were highlighted with a keynote by Eric Larsen, explorer, who detailed his trips to the North Pole and the effects of global warming on the region.   The evening's music was provided by the local zydeco and creole band, K Jones and the Benzie Playboyz.  Another new feature of the Fair this year was the presence of a solar stage for musical performances and the Fair's Kid's day.  Power supply to the stage in the Kid's Tent and Entertainment area was provided by the solar panels of Northwestern Michigan College, which generated power throughout the day – storing it in a battery system in their renewable energy trailer.  The Fair then tapped into this power system for its electrical needs exhibiting the sustainability of the Fair itself. 

 

Saturday evening featured keynote addresses by State Representative Frank Accavitti Jr., Consumers Energy's Bruce Rasher (Manager of Renewable Energy ), and William Cooke, Government Liaison Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment.  Rep. Accavitti discussed the highlights of his Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) bill that is currently introduced in the house (HB 4562) and Mr. Rasher discussed the Consumers Energy GreenCurrents program.  William Cooke followed with an enthusiastic talk about how everyday citizens can get involved and influence a new federal energy policy.  The evening was capped with a mellow performance by Michigan favorites Seth & Daisy May on the Fair's solar stage.

 

Jennifer Alvarado was pleased with the high level of dialogue that the event inspired between the cross-section of manufacturers, dealers and the public who participated.  Alvarado stated, "I was happy that the event's high attendance provided the fantastic ability for attendees – from residents to business owners – to be able to interact, find out how systems work, how they can be more efficient and how to make these systems work for them."