Grand Traverse Band touts new casino as 'green'

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians opened a new casino on Tuesday that the tribe is touting as environmentally friendly.

The tribe built the $116 million Turtle Creek Casino and Hotel based on LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. Every aspect of development, from lighting to the air purifying system to the foliage, was examined to make the facility more "green."

"As native people, we feel an obligation to protect Mother Earth in everything that we do," Chairman Robert Kewaygoshkum told the Associated Press.

The 360,000 square-foot facility replaces an older casino that will be torn down. The tribe plans to recycle materials from the old casino.

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Casinos going green to save energy, money (AP 6/25)