“Propane and Electricity: Keeping the Heat on and Powering Up Our Grid” (April 9, 2021)

Discussion with Jenn Hill, Citizens Utility Board of Michigan

Propane has been in the news in the UP during this winter as it became another battleground in the fight to close Line 5. Enbridge, the owner of the pipeline, has been waging a propaganda campaign with its allies that is meant to create fear, alarm and confusion about what would happen to propane supplies if the line is shut down. Jenn Hill, who has been on the UP Energy Task Force from the beginning, will be able to inform our audience on how the recommendations crafted by the task force on alternative sources for propane became a political football.

Then we’ll switch to work done by the energy task force on our electrical generation capacity during the past year. Will solar and wind projects become the norm? What’s in store for consumers with our widely varying utility bills? Is electrification of transportation feasible in the UP? And many more details.

Jenn Hill is a board member of the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, and a Marquette City Council member. Jenn has a master’s degree in urban planning. She and her husband reside in Marquette.

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“Local Sourcing” (March 25, 2021)

How do your food choices impact your local community? Alex Palzewicz will explain the environmental impact the food industry creates and provide resources to help you connect to local food in your community.

Alex Palzewicz has over 13 years of food service experience and a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from Northern Michigan University. Today she works as both the UP Local Food Coordinator for Taste the Local Difference and as the Market Manager for the U.P. Food Exchange Online Marketplace.

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“The Big Bad Wolf; Or is It?” (February 25. 2021)

Wolves are perhaps the most controversial wildlife species in North America today, inspiring strong feelings both for and against. On Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 pm EST, the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition will livestream a presentation by Nancy Warren, one of the region’s leading advocates for wolves. Her talk, “The Big Bad Wolf; Or is It?” will cover the positive aspects of wolves, the recent ruling taking the species off the federal Endangered Species List, what that delisting means for wolves, and the pending lawsuits aiming to reverse the decision. She will feature many photos taken with her trail cameras on her property.

Warren’s passion for wolves began nearly 30 years ago when she learned there were a handful of wolves in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. She sought to improve human tolerance through education. Since that time she has volunteered her time giving wolf education programs at schools and for various organizations throughout northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. She currently serves as the Executive Director for the National Wolfwatcher Coalition, a nationwide all-volunteer organization. Warren previously held a seat on Wisconsin’s Wolf Stakeholders Committee and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wolf Roundtable, which was charged with developing the guiding principles for the Michigan Wolf Management Plan. She also served as a board member and past President of UPEC.

She lives in Ewen and has welcomed and adapted to having wolves and other wild animals frequent her property, which was placed under a conservation easement, insuring its protection for future generations.

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