You're ok. To briefly explain my stance: I just don't entirely agree with your viewpoint/assertions but I see no reason to engage on a subject so potentially divisive. I'll happily debate anyone on specific issues/policies if they invite the banter but I try to avoid partisan politics.
As for the Grand River Plant, GM agreed to convert the plant to EV production in their latest union contract so the plants future would seem to be all but secured, losing the Federal money may affect the scope/timeline but I doubt it derails the plan entirely. Honestly, giving corporations half-billion dollar handouts isn't something I like to see, if there are handouts to be had I want Lansing and Michigan to get at least their fair share, but I'm fine without the straight-up corporate welfare.
Thank you for your post, I was rather emotional about what happened and what may happen in our near future.
I think up are right about the GM plant, but it was something that I heard that fellow from Ohio say the repubs were going to take a look at. It is true also that these projects should be funded by the company saving government funds for use on public projects.
I read a disturbing artical in the City Pulse about some sort of political protest I guess is what you'd call it politely, where people are being filmed going into Eastside businesses for proposes of intimidation. I would like everyone to patronize the Eastside Michigan Avenue shops and restaurants to show support and that Lansing will not be intimidated.
We take Abbot/Chandler for the start of our trip on backroads up to our cabin. The cabin is on the eastern side of Northern Michigan so going over to 127 takes you back west about 30 miles if you go up to Harrison. Along the way just past East Lansing on the south behind a wall of trees are some huge flat fields, and across the street down a little drive which has a "restricted area stop sign' and there are some windowless buildings, what are these facilities, I have often wondered, anyone know about this area?
It is in Bath township just past the EL city limits on Abbot/Chandler the fields are on the right behind the trees and the buildings are on the left heading north.
Hmmm, I'm still unsure. All I know up that way off of Abbot are the apartment complexes, Eagle Eye Golf Club, some self-storage units, some single family homes and some farms. That's what's between the county line and I-69, anyway.
Speaking of some unknown structures, anyone privy to what's going on with the installation of the very tall electrical towers going up on the eastside of MLK south of the river? I've spotted about three of them that go down to the railroad tracks. Very unattractive. Looks like towers for high-voltage power lines. Actually, now that I think of it, there is one on the north bank, too, but in the GM parking lot on the westside of the street. I do remember there being a project going out west years back. Is this related?
Edit: Nevermind. Found it. It's LBWL's South Reinforcement Transmission Line project:
The South Reinforcement Transmission Line project, part of our Lansing Energy Tomorrow initiative, is needed to update our aging electric system to prepare for our community's future energy needs. This project will construct approximately 6 miles of transmission line from Central Substation to Wise Substation and will continue BWL’s efforts to replace and upgrade aging infrastructure with clean, efficient and reliable generation and transmission assets. This project will improve reliability and add redundancy to the grid by connecting new and upgraded substations with clean power generation sources.
This project will be completed in several phases. Currently, we have completed the Pre-Design and Easement Acquisition and Design phase. We will begin the Construction phase in March 2025 with the aim to complete construction by early 2026.
It's just unfortunate that these projects always have to be so ugly. And the renderings included do not really show the larger towers I'm talking about, at least not how they actually look installed.
@gbdinlansing I also tried to look. Those farms are huge with multiple internal roads, so maybe a private road or buildings related to that, there's also three self storage facilities in the area. The one at State & Chandler is owned by someone who has a lot of cool stuff, I toured part of their motorcycle and car collection as a child; they often have a big howitzer sitting outside. (I'd love to be able to check it out again someday, or just know who's it was.) I imagine they also own the compound-like building with the big solar panels that face State Rd. I'm not sure you're talking about either of those though. I searched satellite images and couldn't find anything else plausible unless you're talking somewhere north of I-69 or not on Chandler. I'm curious to know now, though.
Regarding the transmission towers, they've already installed maybe half that route, working north from the new substation near Davis Park. I agree that they're not a great look but if burying regular electrical lines is untenable for them there's no way they were going to foot the bill for burying transmission lines. It'd be nice if they could do some of those artistic towers like you see some places (not necessarily a person or deer):
Oh, he was just talking about the farms fields? In that case, this is Hamlich Sod Farms. Entrance to the business is actually off Park Lake Road RIGHT on the Meridian Township/Bath Township border.
This land (a bit over 1,000 acres) came into the city in 2002 when East Lansing kind of forced Bath Township into one of those land-sharing agreements where they split the property taxes. Ostensibly, it was to help develop the Melrose Apartments on Chandler/Abbot. Why the sod farm was included in the agreement, I have no idea.
BTW, learned some years ago that early in the areas history, this was a HUGE open wetland known as Chandler Marsh; it stretched as far west as Coolidge. If you look at aerials and maps, you can see the various drains built over time to turn it into farm land.
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As for the Grand River Plant, GM agreed to convert the plant to EV production in their latest union contract so the plants future would seem to be all but secured, losing the Federal money may affect the scope/timeline but I doubt it derails the plan entirely. Honestly, giving corporations half-billion dollar handouts isn't something I like to see, if there are handouts to be had I want Lansing and Michigan to get at least their fair share, but I'm fine without the straight-up corporate welfare.
I think up are right about the GM plant, but it was something that I heard that fellow from Ohio say the repubs were going to take a look at. It is true also that these projects should be funded by the company saving government funds for use on public projects.
Speaking of some unknown structures, anyone privy to what's going on with the installation of the very tall electrical towers going up on the eastside of MLK south of the river? I've spotted about three of them that go down to the railroad tracks. Very unattractive. Looks like towers for high-voltage power lines. Actually, now that I think of it, there is one on the north bank, too, but in the GM parking lot on the westside of the street. I do remember there being a project going out west years back. Is this related?
Edit: Nevermind. Found it. It's LBWL's South Reinforcement Transmission Line project:
https://www.lbwl.com/about-bwl/lansing-energy-tomorrow/south-reinforcement-transmission-line-project
It's just unfortunate that these projects always have to be so ugly. And the renderings included do not really show the larger towers I'm talking about, at least not how they actually look installed.
Regarding the transmission towers, they've already installed maybe half that route, working north from the new substation near Davis Park. I agree that they're not a great look but if burying regular electrical lines is untenable for them there's no way they were going to foot the bill for burying transmission lines. It'd be nice if they could do some of those artistic towers like you see some places (not necessarily a person or deer):
This land (a bit over 1,000 acres) came into the city in 2002 when East Lansing kind of forced Bath Township into one of those land-sharing agreements where they split the property taxes. Ostensibly, it was to help develop the Melrose Apartments on Chandler/Abbot. Why the sod farm was included in the agreement, I have no idea.
BTW, learned some years ago that early in the areas history, this was a HUGE open wetland known as Chandler Marsh; it stretched as far west as Coolidge. If you look at aerials and maps, you can see the various drains built over time to turn it into farm land.