Brookings Institution says protecting Great Lakes could provide economic boom

There is just something enormously satisfying about reports like this.

The Brooking's Institution recently released a cost/benefit report of A Program to Protect and Restore the Great Lakes (.pdf).

In a nutshell the Institution stated that with a $26 billion dollar investment to halt sewer overflows, combat invasive species and clean up toxic spills (all major issues now) Great Lakes communities (such as Cleveland) could share a $50 billion long term economic benefit projection and that the spending of the money could infuse from $30 to $50 billion into the local economies.

Stating that these restoration activities are not 'just nice things to do for the enviornment they are crucial things to do for the economy of our region."

This seems to fly in the face of the current idea that evironmental actions would hamper the economy but perhaps some decent leadership and strong decision making could result in a change of direction.

more resources:

Great Lakes Information Network
Problems and Issues confronting the Great Lakes system
Great Lakes EPA